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ZipVitals

ZIP code

06484

in Shelton, ConnecticutPopulation 41,889

64.20/ 100

Ranked #2,342 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.4%)

Ranked #93 of 277 Connecticut ZIPs (top 34%)

Ranked #29 of 46 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ZIPs (bottom 37%)

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.

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

81.4%

in the top 1.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST81st
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Obesity

24.5%

in the bottom 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

75.2%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST71st
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

10.1%

in the bottom 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST31st
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

PFOA in drinking water

88.8%

in the top 9.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST68th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

PFOS in drinking water

88.8%

in the top 9.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST68th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

13.7%

in the bottom 8.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST45th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

10.2%

in the bottom 9.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST40th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

8.9%

in the bottom 8.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST25th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite measure, Shelton, Connecticut (ZIP 06484) sits in the top 7.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,342nd) and the top 34% of Connecticut (93rd).

continue reading

The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled expected annual loss lies at the national minimum, obesity settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and colon screening stands in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability is in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled fair or poor health sits in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled pfas lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 9.1% nationally. PFOS in drinking water lies in the top 9.4% nationally.

Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 06468, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 81%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 70%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 93%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 86%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Disability

healthier than 88%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 77%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 81%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 21%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 73%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 61%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 85%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 73%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 69%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 44%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Disability

healthier than 53%

7%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 31%

14%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 77%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 49%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 43%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 43%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 51%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 11%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 34%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 9%

14%

Disability

healthier than 26%

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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.

  • Heavy environment, light chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 21.4; chronic-disease standing 80.7 — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #15,338 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.

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 adults24.7%22.4–26.8
High blood pressure among adults31.0%28.2–33.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.1%9.2–10.9
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.9–11.0
Coronary heart disease among adults6.0%5.4–6.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.6%4.9–6.3
Depression among adults18.2%16.0–20.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults8.9%7.8–10.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened40.3%37.2–43.1
Obesity among adults24.5%20.7–28.3
Stroke among adults3.2%3.0–3.5
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years7.8%6.4–9.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.9%6.9–9.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure79.9%77.2–82.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.5%76.8–81.7
Cholesterol screening among adults91.1%89.9–92.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years75.2%72.3–78.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults75.5%73.3–77.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.8%73.1–82.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.9%13.7–17.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults9.1%7.8–10.3
No leisure-time physical activity among adults22.5%19.7–25.3
Short sleep duration among adults32.4%29.0–36.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults13.7%12.1–15.3
Frequent mental distress among adults14.0%12.5–15.4
Frequent physical distress among adults11.6%10.4–12.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults10.1%9.0–11.3
Any disability among adults22.7%20.2–25.2
Hearing disability among adults6.4%5.7–7.1
Independent living disability among adults6.1%5.5–6.9
Mobility disability among adults10.2%9.0–11.5
Self-care disability among adults3.0%2.7–3.3
Vision disability among adults3.9%3.5–4.3
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.5%21.1–26.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.1%8.9–11.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.0%6.0–8.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.7%7.7–9.9
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.8%5.2–6.5
Loneliness among adults32.3%29.2–35.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.6%5.0–6.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate6.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3645.8% (2.3–20.8%) n=278
Uninsured 18–644.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2864.5% (1.2–12.9%) n=277
No HS diploma (25+)7.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.6% (1.1–14.3%) n=278
Bachelor's or higher (25+)41.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50543.6% (19.2–70.7%) n=278
Unemployment rate (16+)4.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.4% (1.6–9.1%) n=277
Households without a vehicle5.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.1% (0.0–13.7%) n=278
Broadband subscription93.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32293.7% (86.9–98.8%) n=278
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)29.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32229.3% (18.2–44.9%) n=278
Homeownership rate76.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.1% (41.3–93.1%) n=278
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–3.8%) n=278
Foreign-born population16.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5539.3% (2.1–22.3%) n=278
Single-parent households51.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08751.1% (36.0–68.7%) n=277
Population 65+21.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.8% (13.4–30.2%) n=278
Median age44.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29244.1 yr (34.7–53.2) n=278
Median household income$108,185$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$107,247 ($63,371–$163,278) n=270
Median home value$452,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$365,900 ($239,080–$622,060) n=268
Median gross rent$1,741$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,450 ($1,128–$2,175) n=247
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CT median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth81.3 yr ± 0.5178.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30881.2 yr (77.7–83.5) n=266

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 0.51 years of 81.3, 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