ZIP code
05486
in South Hero, VermontPopulation 1,500
64.01/ 100
Ranked #2,440 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.7%)
Ranked #22 of 249 Vermont ZIPs (top 8.9%)
Ranked #13 of 36 Burlington-South Burlington, VT ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Colon-cancer screening
78.6%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Short sleep
27.8%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.4%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST40thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$126,513
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.1%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.9%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
South Hero, Vermont (ZIP 05486), in overall standing, comes out in the top 7.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,440th) and the top 8.9% of Vermont (22nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled colon screening registers in the top 0.5% nationally, pharmacy is in the top 3.2% nationally, and modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Modeled mammography registers in the top 3.3% nationally, recreation is in the top 5.5% nationally, and childcare lies in the top 6.7% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and household income is in the top 7.8% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and fair or poor health registers in the bottom 5.7% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 05408, about 3.0 miles away.
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 Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
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
05446
Vermontshares a border
Score 60.66
Closest healthier
05408
Vermontabout 3.0 mi away
Score 64.68
Similar health profile
03285
New Hampshire99% similar profile
Score 59.68
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 | 32.0% | 28.4–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.6% | 31.6–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 4.9–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 7.8–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.1% | 31.1–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.3% | 23.4–35.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.6% | 5.4–8.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.7% | 3.5–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 74.6–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.3–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 88.4–91.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 78.6% | 74.7–82.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.5% | 70.4–76.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.4% | 76.9–87.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.8–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 7.5–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.1% | 13.4–20.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.8% | 22.9–32.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.9% | 10.5–15.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.3–11.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.6% | 19.6–27.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.6–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 8.4–12.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.3–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.8–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 7.8% (2.6–16.6%) n=249 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.1% (0.5–11.7%) n=249 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.4% (1.1–10.6%) n=249 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 61.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.6% (23.1–61.5%) n=249 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.5% (0.0–6.9%) n=248 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.7% (0.0–9.1%) n=249 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.2% (79.4–96.9%) n=249 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.2% (16.0–37.4%) n=249 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.7% (67.1–94.3%) n=249 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.5% (0.0–4.2%) n=249 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.4% (0.0–7.3%) n=250 |
| Single-parent households | 73.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 60.6% (46.4–74.0%) n=248 |
| Population 65+ | 27.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 23.8% (15.2–32.4%) n=250 |
| Median age | 52.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.5 yr (38.1–56.3) n=249 |
| Median household income | $126,513 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $79,091 ($59,484–$109,843) n=238 |
| Median home value | $544,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $281,300 ($200,110–$447,750) n=242 |
| Median gross rent | $1,439 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,131 ($858–$1,557) n=190 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.4 yr ± 1.24 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 82.0 yr (78.6–85.9) n=250 |
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 1.24 years of 79.4, 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