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ZIP code

04537

in Boothbay, MainePopulation 1,685

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

55.14/ 100

Ranked #9,291 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)

Ranked #95 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 23%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

40.5%

in the top 1.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Colon-cancer screening

77.1%

in the top 1.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

28.3%

in the bottom 3.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US4th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

27.6%

in the bottom 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

7.8%

in the bottom 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST14th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

10.1 days/year

in the bottom 7.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST33rd
US7th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

Recreation access

1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 8.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US91st
Definition & 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 ›

Housing insecurity

7.3%

in the bottom 9.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Home broadband subscription

79%

in the bottom 15% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST9th
US15th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

35.5%

in the top 17% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US83rd
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Boothbay, Maine (ZIP 04537) ranks in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,291st) and the top 23% of Maine (95th).

continue reading

The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled colon screening registers in the top 1.0% nationally, and short sleep rests in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 7.2% nationally, recreation sits in the top 8.9% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking resides in the bottom 12.2% nationally. On the other side, modeled arsenic registers in the top 1.5% nationally.

To spell things out, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Close by, ZIP 04556, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 66%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 95%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 96%

11%

Disability

healthier than 65%

7%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 53%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 29%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 37%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 19%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 83%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 91%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 80%

8%

Disability

healthier than 67%

7%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 57%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 50%

14%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 39%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 30%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 23%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults38.3%34.9–41.8
High blood pressure among adults39.9%36.4–43.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults12.4%11.2–13.7
Current asthma among adults12.1%10.7–13.5
Coronary heart disease among adults8.5%7.3–9.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.4%6.6–10.3
Depression among adults26.1%23.0–29.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.3%10.4–14.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.4%38.9–45.9
Obesity among adults31.4%26.7–36.4
Stroke among adults3.9%3.3–4.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.0%7.3–10.9
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years5.9%4.3–8.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.5%77.5–83.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults84.6%82.0–86.9
Cholesterol screening among adults90.4%88.8–91.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years77.1%73.7–80.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults68.6%65.7–71.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.3%70.0–81.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.8%10.7–15.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults11.7%8.7–14.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults19.8%15.9–24.0
Short sleep duration among adults28.3%24.6–32.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.2%14.0–20.6
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%12.9–17.2
Frequent physical distress among adults13.7%11.6–16.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.4%10.3–14.7
Any disability among adults30.2%25.8–34.8
Hearing disability among adults9.0%7.8–10.4
Independent living disability among adults7.0%5.8–8.4
Mobility disability among adults14.5%11.9–17.4
Self-care disability among adults3.5%2.8–4.2
Vision disability among adults4.2%3.5–5.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults19.5%16.3–22.8
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.8%5.8–10.4
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.9%7.9–14.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.3%5.7–9.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.9%4.8–7.2
Loneliness among adults27.6%23.9–31.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.9%4.7–7.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)ME median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416
Uninsured 18–646.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2869.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413
No HS diploma (25+)7.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417
Bachelor's or higher (25+)37.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50529.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417
Unemployment rate (16+)1.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415
Households without a vehicle4.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416
Broadband subscription79.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)35.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416
Homeownership rate88.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32284.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416
Foreign-born population1.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5532.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417
Single-parent households61.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414
Population 65+27.7%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417
Median age51.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29249.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413
Median household income$76,667$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396
Median home value$358,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402
Median gross rent$1,048$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,014 ($618–$1,501) n=320
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)ME median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.1 yr ± 1.8378.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30879.0 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 1.83 years of 79.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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