ZIP code
04979
in Solon, MainePopulation 963
48.48/ 100
Ranked #18,331 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #207 of 408 Maine ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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
5.7%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
22.5%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
14.4 mi
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS9thDefinition & 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
70.2%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
9.4%
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
11.9%
in the bottom 12.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
89.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
Solon, Maine (ZIP 04979), overall, ranks in the bottom 43% nationally (18,331st) and the bottom 49% of Maine (207th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 8.5% nationally, and modeled tree cover resides in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat is in the bottom 11.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 12.1% nationally. Fiber broadband lands in the top 16% nationally. Set against that, modeled energy burden lies in the top 3.8% nationally, and arsenic stands in the top 5.3% nationally. Walkability rests in the bottom 8.7% nationally, and unemployment registers in the top 10.9% nationally.
Defined simply, 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. ZIP 04947, about 12 miles away, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 99%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.3%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Disability
healthier than 37%
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
04912
Maineshares a border
Score 38.98
Closest healthier
04947
Maineabout 12 mi away
Score 55.63
Similar health profile
04095
Maine99% similar profile
Score 48.52
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 | 35.9% | 32.6–39.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 35.4–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 7.8–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 23.7–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.1–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.4% | 39.0–45.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 29.8–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.0% | 10.0–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 5.8–10.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.6–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.2% | 81.8–86.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.4–90.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 67.2–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.1% | 55.0–61.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 73.6–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.5–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 12.6–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.4% | 20.1–28.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.3% | 33.2–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 16.6–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 12.9–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.3% | 29.6–38.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 12.8–18.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.2–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.4–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.0–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 10.7–18.1 |
| 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 | 7.4% | 6.0–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 28.9–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.1–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | ME median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.3% (3.2–19.5%) n=416 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.8% (3.0–20.9%) n=413 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (0.8–11.7%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.4% (14.9–57.3%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=415 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–11.5%) n=416 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.9% (79.7–97.2%) n=416 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.4% (13.9–35.0%) n=416 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.7% (68.7–95.5%) n=416 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.4%) n=416 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.1% (0.1–5.9%) n=417 |
| Single-parent households | 61.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.5% (48.8–80.6%) n=414 |
| Population 65+ | 23.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.6% (16.3–42.1%) n=417 |
| Median age | 45.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 49.0 yr (39.3–60.7) n=413 |
| Median household income | $69,205 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,485 ($50,225–$100,018) n=396 |
| Median home value | $183,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $246,500 ($130,660–$484,830) n=402 |
| Median gross rent | $915 | $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 | 74.1 yr ± 2.08 | 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 2.08 years of 74.1, 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