ZIP code
04074
in Scarborough, MainePopulation 23,076
62.91/ 100
Ranked #3,019 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #11 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 2.7%)
Ranked #8 of 82 Portland-South Portland, ME ZIPs (top 9.8%)
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
51.7%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
6.4%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Obesity
25.3%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$135,018
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28.5%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.2%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Scarborough, Maine (ZIP 04074) lands in the top 9.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,019th) and the top 2.7% of Maine (11th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled food insecurity lies in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and obesity resides in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Household income lands in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 5.4% nationally, colon screening rests in the top 3.4% nationally, and mammography is in the top 3.6% nationally. Physicians stands in the top 6.6% nationally. On the other hand, modeled arsenic settles in the top 0.6% nationally, and disaster risk lies in the top 4.3% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 04107, just across the boundary. On a broader view, the area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 18.0; chronic-disease standing 76.6 — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,277 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
04038
Maineshares a border
Score 59.25
Closest healthier
04107
Maineshares a border
Score 68.30
Similar health profile
27410
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 62.24
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 | 28.5% | 26.2–30.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.9% | 30.3–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.3% | 21.8–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.0% | 32.2–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.3% | 22.0–28.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.2–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 73.0–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.6% | 79.2–83.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.9% | 88.6–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.8% | 71.8–77.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.0% | 70.5–75.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.2% | 77.8–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.5% | 25.4–31.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.6–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.0% | 22.5–27.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 18.4–22.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 27.3–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 60.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 24.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 48.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $135,018 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $556,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,956 | $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 | 81.2 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 81.2, 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