ZIP code
30540
in Ellijay, GeorgiaPopulation 20,582
50.43/ 100
Ranked #15,656 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #259 of 711 Georgia 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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
81.2%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Park land
18%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
43.6%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
96.8 days/year
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
32.9%
in the bottom 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS27thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
0.3 days/year
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS28thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Ellijay, Georgia (ZIP 30540), by its overall standing, sits in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,656th) and the top 36% of Georgia (259th).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 3.7% nationally, modeled tree cover is in the top 4.5% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 6.4% nationally. Park land rests in the top 7.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outpatient settles in the top 13.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 9.3% nationally, and high cholesterol stands in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the top 15% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 30536, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
“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
30175
Georgiashares a border
Score 44.49
Closest healthier
30536
Georgiashares a border
Score 51.57
Similar health profile
30525
Georgia94% similar profile
Score 51.50
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 | 32.9% | 29.0–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.1–44.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 17.7–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.6% | 38.6–47.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.3% | 26.2–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.8% | 11.2–16.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.2% | 12.2–16.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.6–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.3–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.1–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 61.8–71.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.4% | 56.9–64.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 65.5–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.1–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.0–33.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 27.0–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.6% | 19.5–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 30.8–39.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 14.9–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 18.7–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.0–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.4–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 29.4–40.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 26.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 62.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 27.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 49.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $72,578 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $294,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $956 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $993 ($694–$1,769) n=627 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.2 yr ± 0.74 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.1 yr (73.3–79.7) n=668 |
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 0.74 years of 78.2, 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