ZIP code
44824
in Castalia, OhioPopulation 3,642
48.19/ 100
Ranked #18,700 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #536 of 1,176 Ohio ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #18 of 21 Sandusky, OH ZIPs (bottom 14.3%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
50.7 mi
in the top 12.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
90.7%
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Castalia, Ohio (ZIP 44824) places in the bottom 42% nationally (18,700th) and the top 46% of Ohio (536th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 12.0% nationally, and modeled disaster risk rests in the bottom 14.8% nationally. Fiber broadband resides in the top 15% nationally, and unemployment is in the bottom 17% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure stands in the bottom 23% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 2.9% nationally, and radon settles in the top 10.9% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
Beside the areas that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 43410, 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 Sandusky, OH metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
43410
Ohioshares a border
Score 49.48
Closest healthier
43464
Ohioshares a border
Score 48.70
Similar health profile
44436
Ohio97% similar profile
Score 49.23
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 | 35.0% | 31.8–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.3% | 38.6–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 22.1–28.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 36.6–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 34.0–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.7–17.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.0–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.6% | 78.0–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 79.0–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.1–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.4% | 64.1–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.4% | 61.2–67.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 70.5–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.2–18.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 13.8–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.6–33.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 31.0–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.4–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.8–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 16.9–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 9.9–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.0–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.0–11.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 28.2–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (3.5–26.2%) n=1,177 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (2.5–18.1%) n=1,174 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (2.3–17.0%) n=1,179 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.7% (8.1–45.8%) n=1,179 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.7% (0.0–9.8%) n=1,171 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.0–14.5%) n=1,177 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.9% (76.5–96.0%) n=1,177 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (11.2–34.6%) n=1,177 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (52.8–91.8%) n=1,177 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.5%) n=1,177 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–6.8%) n=1,180 |
| Single-parent households | 51.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (36.6–68.1%) n=1,168 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.1–27.2%) n=1,180 |
| Median age | 44.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.2–50.5) n=1,169 |
| Median household income | $79,803 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $70,500 ($46,328–$101,197) n=1,127 |
| Median home value | $193,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,700 ($104,860–$310,980) n=1,117 |
| Median gross rent | $717 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $907 ($714–$1,294) n=1,007 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.8 yr ± 0.64 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.9 yr (74.0–81.3) n=1,154 |
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 0.64 years of 77.8, 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