ZIP code
03903
in Eliot, MainePopulation 7,146
56.50/ 100
Ranked #7,757 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #67 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #41 of 82 Portland-South Portland, ME ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Food insecurity
7.4%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
1.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
19.9%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.9%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.4%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
97.9%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.3%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST77thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
56%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
2.3 mi
in the bottom 12.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Eliot, Maine (ZIP 03903) comes out in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,757th) and the top 16% of Maine (67th).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: modeled food insecurity lands in the bottom 5.0% nationally, fatal road crashes is in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and modeled mammography resides in the top 4.2% nationally. Childcare rests in the top 7.3% nationally, modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 7.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled colon screening settles in the top 6.5% nationally. Working the other way, modeled arsenic registers in the top 6.5% nationally, and pfas stands in the top 9.9% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 12.2% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 03801, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.4%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
03801
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 66.45
Closest healthier
03820
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 61.80
Similar health profile
40280
Kentucky98% similar profile
Score 55.95
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 31.7% | 29.1–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 32.3–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 10.0–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 22.1–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 34.9–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.4% | 28.4–36.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.4–10.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.8–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.9–81.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 79.3–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.2–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.3% | 70.0–76.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.8% | 68.2–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.9% | 77.2–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.1–14.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 16.6–22.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.4% | 25.9–33.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.0% | 13.8–18.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.1–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 26.1–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.2–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 18.2–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.0–8.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.5–11.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.3–9.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 26.1–32.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 70.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 27.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 50.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $101,522 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $498,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,948 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,014 ($618–$1,501) n=320 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.2 yr ± 1.63 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.0 yr (76.1–82.5) n=363 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 1.63 years of 80.2, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured