ZIP code
80221
in Denver, ColoradoPopulation 39,718
52.13/ 100
Ranked #13,282 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #307 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #112 of 127 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ZIPs (bottom 11.9%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
20.4%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.1 mi
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
66.8%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST18thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
26.1%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.4%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
55.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
7.1 ppb
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
US94thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 80221, one of several in Denver, Colorado lands in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,282nd) and the bottom 39% of Colorado (307th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled high blood pressure sits in the bottom 3.7% nationally, and high cholesterol lands in the bottom 3.9% nationally. On the other side, modeled uninsured lies in the top 4.2% nationally, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 4.0% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally. Modeled mammography registers in the bottom 5.1% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum, and colon screening is in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Lead in tap water sits in the top 6.0% nationally.
Put simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. On the overall standing, ZIP 80002, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 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 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 2.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 91.6 (top 10%) — 89 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,810 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, 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 78.8 ± 1.4 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
80002
Coloradoshares a border
Score 58.08
Closest healthier
80003
Coloradoshares a border
Score 56.21
Similar health profile
94520
California97% similar profile
Score 52.12
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 | 18.9% | 17.3–20.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.1% | 23.8–28.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.4% | 18.3–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.4% | 28.0–33.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.2% | 28.6–36.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.5–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 11.1–15.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.4% | 18.4–22.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.1% | 63.2–69.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.0% | 66.1–71.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.1% | 80.4–83.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.8% | 52.1–59.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.2% | 54.4–59.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 66.8% | 60.6–72.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 21.6–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.0% | 29.7–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 18.2–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.6–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.7–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 15.0–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 27.8–33.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 41.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 11.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 34.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $86,810 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $472,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,666 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,534 ($828–$2,196) n=401 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.8 yr ± 0.73 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.4 yr (76.8–83.2) n=466 |
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 78.8, 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