ZIP code
32968
in Vero Beach, FloridaPopulation 15,912
59.05/ 100
Ranked #5,559 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #219 of 974 Florida ZIPs (top 22%)
Too few scored ZIPs in the Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL metro area to rank within it.
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.
PFAS in drinking water
82.2%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
182.9 days/year
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
63.2%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
25.5%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST35thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
72.3%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
91.3%
in the top 14.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
4.9%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
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 32968, one of several in Vero Beach, Florida places in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,559th) and the top 22% of Florida (219th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled obesity registers in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and arsenic settles in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Home broadband subscription sits in the top 11.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden lies in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 9.5% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled pfas resides in the top 1.5% nationally, modeled humid heat is in the top 1.6% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk stands in the top 7.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 11.5% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 32963, about 2.8 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 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL 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 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 1.0%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $94,113 predicts 79.8 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,233 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.4 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 2.5 years above them.
Ranked #1,153 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
32960
Floridashares a border
Score 53.32
Closest healthier
32963
Floridaabout 2.8 mi away
Score 70.19
Similar health profile
34688
Florida99% similar profile
Score 59.14
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 | 30.0% | 27.0–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.9% | 31.3–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.6% | 10.6–12.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 17.5% | 14.9–20.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.2% | 36.3–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.5% | 20.6–30.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 6.9–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.4–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.5% | 77.6–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 77.1–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.3–90.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.3% | 68.1–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.6% | 63.3–69.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 70.7–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 11.9–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.9% | 17.6–24.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 28.7–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 13.9–18.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.7% | 24.2–31.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.4% (5.3–23.2%) n=972 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 15.9% (7.1–27.2%) n=968 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.7% (2.9–20.6%) n=977 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.1% (12.7–56.0%) n=977 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.8–7.7%) n=968 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (1.2–11.0%) n=972 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.9% (83.2–96.9%) n=972 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 33.2% (20.1–47.6%) n=972 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.9% (47.3–90.5%) n=972 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.2% (0.2–6.7%) n=972 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 11.5% (2.3–39.9%) n=977 |
| Single-parent households | 64.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.8% (38.7–75.3%) n=968 |
| Population 65+ | 28.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (11.9–40.6%) n=977 |
| Median age | 48.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.0 yr (35.1–59.8) n=972 |
| Median household income | $94,113 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,857 ($48,246–$112,420) n=946 |
| Median home value | $411,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $334,600 ($168,120–$631,410) n=932 |
| Median gross rent | $1,777 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 81.4, 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