ZIP code
04578
in Wiscasset, MainePopulation 4,709
50.72/ 100
Ranked #15,246 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #172 of 408 Maine ZIPs (top 42%)
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
26.9%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
57.8%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.1%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
0.98%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Wiscasset, Maine (ZIP 04578), overall, ranks in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,246th) and the top 42% of Maine (172nd).
This area's most favorable readings come through plainly in the numbers: grocery is in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening lands in the top 7.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the top 11.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and short sleep rests in the bottom 17% nationally. On the other side, modeled arsenic registers in the top 3.9% nationally, and pfas resides in the top 8.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure is in the top 16% nationally.
Defined simply, 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. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. ZIP 04342, just across the boundary, comes out 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.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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.
Nearby
04342
Maineshares a border
Score 51.63
Closest healthier
04535
Maineshares a border
Score 56.72
Similar health profile
04963
Maine97% similar profile
Score 51.96
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 | 35.1% | 32.2–38.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 33.6–40.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.4–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 27.9% | 24.8–31.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.9% | 36.6–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 27.3–36.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.7% | 8.0–11.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.3–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.4–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.9–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.1–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.1% | 69.5–76.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.6–64.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 70.5–82.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.9–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.3–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.3% | 18.8–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 27.4–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 16.4–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 28.5–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–17.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 20.1–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.4–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 11.0–16.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.9–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.5% | 27.7–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 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+) | 8.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 59.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 29.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 52.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $81,063 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $327,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $1,480 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 1.20 | 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 1.20 years of 79.2, 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