ZIP code
32609
in Gainesville, FloridaPopulation 19,752
43.61/ 100
Ranked #23,792 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #788 of 974 Florida ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #19 of 29 Gainesville, FL ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
165.3 days/year
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
522 units
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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
1.2%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
43.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
27.8%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
51.2%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
12.1%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Overall, ZIP 32609, one of several in Gainesville, Florida places in the bottom 26% nationally (23,792nd) and the bottom 19% of Florida (788th).
The measures that matter most for this area lead the way: distance to a Superfund site lies at the national minimum, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 2.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure resides in the top 5.5% nationally, and poverty is in the top 8.3% nationally. Homeownership lands in the bottom 9.8% nationally, and households without a vehicle stands in the top 10.7% nationally. On the better side, subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 4.2% nationally, transit settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 5.2% nationally. Mental-health providers lies in the top 9.9% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 32601, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Gainesville, FL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.1 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $49,406 predicts 77.3 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,401 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.1 ± 1.4 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.2 years — 2.1 years below them.
Ranked #1,650 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
32044
Floridashares a border
Score 36.22
Closest healthier
32601
Floridashares a border
Score 48.35
Similar health profile
77864
Texas99% similar profile
Score 40.94
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 | 26.5% | 23.8–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 35.1–42.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.2–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 34.0–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 32.4–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.8% | 16.7–23.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.9% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 74.1–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.2–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.1% | 81.2–85.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.8% | 58.3–67.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.8% | 47.4–53.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.9% | 65.1–78.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.9% | 24.1–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 35.2–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.7% | 22.1–27.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.7–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 16.1–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 32.3–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 27.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.4% (5.3–23.2%) n=972 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 15.9% (7.1–27.2%) n=968 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.7% (2.9–20.6%) n=977 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.1% (12.7–56.0%) n=977 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.8–7.7%) n=968 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (1.2–11.0%) n=972 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.9% (83.2–96.9%) n=972 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 33.2% (20.1–47.6%) n=972 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.9% (47.3–90.5%) n=972 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.2% (0.2–6.7%) n=972 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 11.5% (2.3–39.9%) n=977 |
| Single-parent households | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.8% (38.7–75.3%) n=968 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (11.9–40.6%) n=977 |
| Median age | 36.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.0 yr (35.1–59.8) n=972 |
| Median household income | $49,406 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,857 ($48,246–$112,420) n=946 |
| Median home value | $178,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $334,600 ($168,120–$631,410) n=932 |
| Median gross rent | $1,258 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,604 ($968–$2,218) n=901 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.1 yr ± 0.70 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.2 yr (74.6–82.2) n=894 |
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 0.70 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