ZIP code
04048
in Limerick, MainePopulation 3,400
51.90/ 100
Ranked #13,593 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #148 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #60 of 82 Portland-South Portland, ME ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
18.9 mi
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.63 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
13.3 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
12.9 mi
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST74thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
18.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
24.7 days/year
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS79thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$101,172
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS68thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
Limerick, Maine (ZIP 04048), in overall standing, comes out in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,593rd) and the top 36% of Maine (148th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: mental-health providers settles in the top 1.9% nationally, and childcare lands in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 10.0% nationally. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover rests in the top 15% nationally. On the other hand, distance to an emergency room settles in the top 6.3% nationally, and distance to a nursing home lands in the top 6.7% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden settles in the top 12.2% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 04087, about 0.8 miles away.
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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
04020
Maineshares a border
Score 47.64
Closest healthier
04087
Maineabout 0.8 mi away
Score 52.06
Similar health profile
48861
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 52.61
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 | 29.9% | 27.4–32.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.5% | 30.8–36.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–14.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 27.1% | 24.3–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.8% | 32.9–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 29.9–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.5–12.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.2–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 73.0–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.7–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 84.8–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.1% | 65.6–72.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 61.7–67.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 74.5–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.5–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.4% | 18.3–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.7–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.8–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 14.6–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 28.3–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 20.4–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.1–11.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.4–15.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.3–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 28.7–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 63.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 17.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $101,172 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $269,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,758 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 1.61 | 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 1.61 years of 77.9, 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