ZIP code
80236
in Denver, ColoradoPopulation 16,863
56.04/ 100
Ranked #8,230 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #236 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #95 of 127 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Binge drinking
22.5%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Obesity
22.7%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
25%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.3%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.5%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
31.6%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.1 per million
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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
By the composite measure, ZIP 80236, one of several in Denver, Colorado sits in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,230th) and the top 47% of Colorado (236th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled obesity resides in the bottom 2.7% nationally, modeled high blood pressure lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and lithium in drinking water settles in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Walkability stands in the top 7.7% nationally, modeled short sleep is in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled binge drinking sits in the top 1.5% nationally, and tree cover registers at the national minimum. Modeled uninsured lands in the top 6.2% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 8.2% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 80123, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Disability
healthier than 17%
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 76.2 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $86,115 predicts 79.5 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,512 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 76.2 ± 1.3 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.3 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,464 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 12.2; chronic-disease standing 92.5 (top 10%) — 80 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,214 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
80110
Coloradoshares a border
Score 55.09
Closest healthier
80123
Coloradoshares a border
Score 62.51
Similar health profile
94544
California98% similar profile
Score 56.18
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 | 21.4% | 19.5–23.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 25.0% | 22.7–27.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 19.1–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.6% | 29.2–34.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.2–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.3% | 16.1–20.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.1% | 66.2–71.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.1% | 67.4–72.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.9% | 82.3–85.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.2% | 56.5–63.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.1% | 58.3–63.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.0% | 62.7–74.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.5% | 20.2–25.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.0% | 19.6–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 26.3–32.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.3% | 16.5–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.9–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.9–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.6–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.7% | 27.1–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 42.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 13.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 36.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $86,115 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $531,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,728 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 76.2, 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