ZIP code
63135
in Ferguson, MissouriPopulation 18,381
39.28/ 100
Ranked #27,218 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #725 of 993 Missouri ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #211 of 234 St. Louis, MO-IL ZIPs (bottom 9.9%)
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.
Utility shut-off threat
19.7%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
24.3%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
15.5%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.9%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
20.3%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Transit access
3.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
27.4%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.2%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Ferguson, Missouri (ZIP 63135) places in the bottom 15% nationally (27,218th) and the bottom 27% of Missouri (725th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: lead in tap water rests at the national minimum, and transit resides in the top 7.6% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled utility shutoff is in the top 2.7% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the top 4.6% nationally, transportation registers in the top 5.7% nationally, and independent living disability settles in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability sits in the top 8.2% nationally, food insecurity lies in the top 8.3% nationally, and short sleep rests in the top 8.6% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 63031, 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 St. Louis, MO-IL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
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
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 74.2 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $52,328 predicts 77.5 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,498 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.2 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
63031
Missourishares a border
Score 48.42
Closest healthier
63033
Missourishares a border
Score 48.77
Similar health profile
35215
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 40.12
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 | 29.9% | 27.5–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.4% | 41.4–47.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 20.3–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.5–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 37.3–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.9% | 19.0–27.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.8–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.7–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 78.4–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.6–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 60.3–69.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.3% | 47.7–54.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 70.2–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.4% | 18.1–22.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.8% | 32.3–39.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.2% | 37.9–46.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.4% | 24.8–30.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 18.1–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.3% | 18.4–22.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.5% | 38.2–45.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.3% | 18.3–22.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.8% | 23.9–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.4% | 24.5–30.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 26.1% | 23.3–29.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.3% | 21.8–27.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.9% | 34.5–41.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.6–21.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.3% (3.2–26.0%) n=1,009 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.2% (3.5–28.4%) n=1,006 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.5% (2.5–20.5%) n=1,009 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.1% (7.2–40.2%) n=1,009 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.9% (0.0–8.5%) n=1,003 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–11.9%) n=1,009 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.3% (72.7–95.2%) n=1,009 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.7% (8.4–33.9%) n=1,009 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.4% (56.0–94.3%) n=1,009 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.1%) n=1,009 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.4%) n=1,010 |
| Single-parent households | 32.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (39.5–75.6%) n=1,005 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (11.7–31.1%) n=1,010 |
| Median age | 35.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.3–55.9) n=1,005 |
| Median household income | $52,328 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,740 ($42,457–$95,231) n=948 |
| Median home value | $107,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $174,150 ($91,880–$309,500) n=930 |
| Median gross rent | $1,170 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $813 ($553–$1,265) n=786 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.2 yr ± 0.63 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.6 yr (74.6–81.0) n=995 |
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 0.63 years of 74.2, 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