ZIP code
80401
in Golden, ColoradoPopulation 43,811
60.97/ 100
Ranked #4,150 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.0%)
Ranked #137 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #66 of 127 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.5%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
25%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST73rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
26.9%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.57 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›Recreation access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
62.6%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 80401, one of several in Golden, Colorado lands in the top 13.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,150th) and the top 27% of Colorado (137th).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled obesity sits in the bottom 2.7% nationally, and park land rests in the top 5.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the bottom 4.6% nationally, and outpatient stands in the top 6.0% nationally. Recreation settles in the top 6.9% nationally, and modeled energy burden lies in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Against that, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 0.7% nationally, industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 1.8% nationally, and binge drinking registers in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled pfas sits in the top 7.0% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 80228, 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 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 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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 7.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 90.8 (top 10%) — 84 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,457 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
80033
Coloradoshares a border
Score 57.39
Closest healthier
80228
Coloradoshares a border
Score 64.60
Similar health profile
98144
Washington99% similar profile
Score 65.34
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 | 24.1% | 22.0–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.9% | 24.5–29.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 21.3–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.6% | 29.8–35.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.7% | 19.5–26.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.0–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.7% | 65.6–71.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.4% | 69.5–75.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.4–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.5% | 66.9–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.6% | 64.7–70.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.7% | 66.6–78.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.5% | 18.1–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 12.8% | 10.9–14.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.7% | 26.2–33.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.1% | 22.4–28.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 55.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 38.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $118,039 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $804,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,939 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.64 | 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 0.64 years of 80.2, 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