ZIP code
04287
in Bowdoin, MainePopulation 3,188
52.56/ 100
Ranked #12,680 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #136 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #57 of 82 Portland-South Portland, ME ZIPs (bottom 30%)
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
25.4%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
72%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.64 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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
In overall standing, Bowdoin, Maine (ZIP 04287) comes out in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,680th) and the top 33% of Maine (136th).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover sits in the top 8.2% nationally, modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and civic registers in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 18% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Unemployment resides in the bottom 18% nationally. Working the other way, modeled arsenic rests in the top 4.4% nationally. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 04008, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
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
04008
Maineshares a border
Score 52.64
Closest healthier
04086
Maineshares a border
Score 55.98
Similar health profile
49097
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 54.90
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% | 28.5–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.1% | 30.0–36.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.5–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 28.5% | 25.3–32.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 33.9–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.2% | 26.7–36.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.5% | 14.6–21.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 5.6–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.2% | 70.9–77.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 78.0–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 84.7–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 64.6–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.6–69.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 72.1–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 12.4–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.4% | 18.2–27.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 25.6–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 14.5–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 12.7–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 25.4–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 10.8–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 2.8–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 18.3–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.2–13.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 10.8–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.6–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.1–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 26.8–34.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 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 | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 70.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 14.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $91,239 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $292,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.53 | 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 1.53 years of 78.9, 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