ZIP code
04085
in Steep Falls, MainePopulation 2,762
45.41/ 100
Ranked #21,976 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #264 of 408 Maine ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #82 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
62.5%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
72.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Housing-cost burden
35.7%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.3%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.6%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
17.4%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS74thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
0.88%
in the top 33% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS67thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
Steep Falls, Maine (ZIP 04085), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 31% nationally (21,976th) and the bottom 35% of Maine (264th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled arsenic registers in the top 0.3% nationally, and pfas stands in the top 3.7% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room is in the top 12.3% nationally, and distance to a nursing home resides in the top 16% nationally. On the brighter side, recreation rests in the top 3.4% nationally, and outpatient lies in the top 7.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Childcare registers in the top 10.5% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, arsenic runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 04024, 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 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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
04024
Maineshares a border
Score 47.38
Closest healthier
04029
Maineshares a border
Score 46.95
Similar health profile
04256
Maine98% similar profile
Score 44.22
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 | 30.0% | 27.6–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 33.0–38.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 28.9% | 26.0–32.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.6% | 31.9–37.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.0% | 27.9–36.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.9% | 17.7–24.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.0% | 70.0–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.8–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.6% | 82.5–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 64.4–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.5–65.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 71.6–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.2–20.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.0% | 20.0–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 29.4–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 18.2–23.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.3–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 29.5–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 21.5–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 11.5–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.0% | 16.8–23.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.4–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 30.3–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 49.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 11.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 44.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $92,246 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $288,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,551 | $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 | 82.6 yr ± 2.81 | 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 2.81 years of 82.6, 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