ZIP code
33853
in Lake Wales, FloridaPopulation 12,674
37.79/ 100
Ranked #28,147 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.3%)
Ranked #914 of 974 Florida ZIPs (bottom 6.2%)
Ranked #33 of 38 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ZIPs (bottom 13.2%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
206 days/year
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
21.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
44.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.6%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›Self-care disability
6.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
24.6%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Obesity
44.7%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.6%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
41.2%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 33853, one of several in Lake Wales, Florida places in the bottom 12.3% nationally (28,147th) and the bottom 6.2% of Florida (914th).
The data opens on real and measurable burdens: modeled humid heat resides in the top 0.3% nationally, and uninsured is in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and vision disability stands in the top 5.8% nationally. Modeled self-care disability registers in the top 7.4% nationally, tooth loss settles in the top 7.8% nationally, and obesity sits in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lies in the top 9.1% nationally. More encouragingly, physicians rests in the top 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, 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 33859, 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, 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 72%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 54%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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
3 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 73.9 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $44,474 predicts 76.9 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #4,036 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 73.9 ± 1.6 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 5.0 years below them.
Ranked #3,384 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 71.9; chronic-disease standing 15.0 — 57 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,959 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.
Nearby
33859
Floridashares a border
Score 41.60
Closest healthier
33898
Floridashares a border
Score 41.94
Similar health profile
32431
Florida99% similar profile
Score 41.30
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 | 30.3% | 27.6–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 37.7–44.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.3–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 37.5–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.7% | 39.4–50.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.6% | 21.1–28.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 21.2% | 18.6–23.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 77.1–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.2–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.6–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.2% | 56.6–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.9% | 44.7–51.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 65.8–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 11.2–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.4% | 16.1–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.7% | 30.8–38.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.8% | 40.1–49.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.6% | 26.7–32.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.9–22.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.9–20.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.9% | 17.0–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.1% | 38.2–46.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.8% | 19.5–24.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.4% (5.3–23.2%) n=972 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 15.9% (7.1–27.2%) n=968 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.7% (2.9–20.6%) n=977 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.1% (12.7–56.0%) n=977 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.8–7.7%) n=968 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (1.2–11.0%) n=972 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.9% (83.2–96.9%) n=972 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 33.2% (20.1–47.6%) n=972 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.9% (47.3–90.5%) n=972 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.2% (0.2–6.7%) n=972 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 11.5% (2.3–39.9%) n=977 |
| Single-parent households | 36.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.8% (38.7–75.3%) n=968 |
| Population 65+ | 17.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (11.9–40.6%) n=977 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.0 yr (35.1–59.8) n=972 |
| Median household income | $44,474 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,857 ($48,246–$112,420) n=946 |
| Median home value | $209,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $334,600 ($168,120–$631,410) n=932 |
| Median gross rent | $1,059 | $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 | 73.9 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 73.9, 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