ZIP code
04073
in Sanford, MainePopulation 17,414
46.03/ 100
Ranked #21,322 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #253 of 408 Maine ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #81 of 82 Portland-South Portland, ME ZIPs (bottom 1.3%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
23.1%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
55.9%
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
233 units
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
78.2%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.8 pCi/L
in the top 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
78.2%
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
18.8%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS83rdDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
0.2 days/year
in the bottom 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS27thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
78.2%
in the top 30% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS70thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Sanford, Maine (ZIP 04073) comes out in the bottom 34% nationally (21,322nd) and the bottom 38% of Maine (253rd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled arsenic stands in the top 5.1% nationally, and pfas lands in the top 9.9% nationally. PFOA in drinking water is in the top 12.2% nationally, and modeled radon resides in the top 14.2% nationally. PFOS in drinking water rests in the top 12.6% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability lies in the top 15% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the top 12.5% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 03906, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
“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
03906
Maineshares a border
Score 52.86
Closest healthier
04002
Maineshares a border
Score 51.07
Similar health profile
49014
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 46.43
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 | 31.3% | 28.9–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 32.9–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 24.7–30.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.5% | 33.8–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 31.4–39.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.2–17.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.9–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.7–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.7–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.4–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 62.9–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.6% | 56.7–62.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 73.3–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.2–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.3% | 22.3–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 29.7–37.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 19.4–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.8% | 16.9–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 32.3–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 21.4–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.5–15.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 15.9–20.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 29.6–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 57.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 20.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $72,917 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $282,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,151 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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