ZIP code
04220
in Buckfield, MainePopulation 3,717
49.44/ 100
Ranked #17,026 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #196 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 48%)
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.
Homeownership rate
95.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
73.1%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
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
Buckfield, Maine (ZIP 04220), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 47% nationally (17,026th) and the top 48% of Maine (196th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: homeownership lies in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. On the other side, recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 18% nationally, and energy burden lies in the top 14.8% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 04238, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
“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
04221
Maineshares a border
Score 46.29
Closest healthier
04238
Maineshares a border
Score 50.91
Similar health profile
15764
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 51.80
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 | 32.6% | 29.8–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.7% | 31.7–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–15.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 23.3–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 36.3–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.9% | 29.5–39.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.5% | 13.8–19.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.7–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.6% | 72.7–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 78.0–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.2–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.0% | 66.2–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.6% | 57.4–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 69.6–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.4–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 19.4–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.1% | 29.9–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.1–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 27.0–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 21.9–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.0–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 12.9–18.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.8% | 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 | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 53.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 15.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 39.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $79,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $222,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $527 | $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 | 80.8 yr ± 2.72 | 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 2.72 years of 80.8, 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