ZIP code
04912
in Athens, MainePopulation 858
38.98/ 100
Ranked #27,406 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.6%)
Ranked #371 of 408 Maine ZIPs (bottom 9.1%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
6.4%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
22.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
72.7%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
25.1%
in the top 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.4%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
40%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
10.7%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Athens, Maine (ZIP 04912) places in the bottom 14.6% nationally (27,406th) and the bottom 9.1% of Maine (371st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures that define this area's challenges come through directly: modeled energy burden is in the top 1.9% nationally, and arsenic lands in the top 5.5% nationally. Walkability stands in the bottom 7.2% nationally, and poverty registers in the top 10.8% nationally. On the stronger side, outpatient settles in the top 1.8% nationally, childcare sits in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled tree cover lies in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 10.7% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs.
For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 04920, 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 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 99%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.3%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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
04920
Maineshares a border
Score 46.21
Closest healthier
04942
Maineshares a border
Score 40.18
Similar health profile
04417
Maine99% similar profile
Score 36.47
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 | 36.8% | 33.9–39.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 37.4–44.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.1% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Depression among adults | 28.7% | 25.5–32.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.9% | 38.5–45.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 33.1–42.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.0% | 16.1–22.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 7.5–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.7–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.9% | 80.2–85.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.1–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 61.5–69.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.0% | 49.7–56.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 67.5–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.5–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.1% | 17.4–24.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 25.1–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 35.7–44.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.8% | 21.2–28.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.2–21.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.1% | 34.7–43.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 12.2–18.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.4% | 18.2–26.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.5–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.6–11.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 30.3–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 52.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 47.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $158,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $538 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 2.71 | 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 2.71 years of 76.3, 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