ZIP code
80438
in Empire, ColoradoPopulation 970
53.02/ 100
Ranked #12,061 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #290 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #109 of 127 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ZIPs (bottom 14.2%)
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.
Park land
85.2%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
1.8 days/year
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
25.8 mi
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
22.4 mi
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
14.9%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
17 mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
9.2%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10.5 per million
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
26.6%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.1%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Empire, Colorado (ZIP 80438) ranks in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,061st) and the bottom 42% of Colorado (290th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: park land lies in the top 0.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 3.8% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the bottom 8.4% nationally. On the other side, distance to an emergency room registers in the top 2.8% nationally, modeled transportation noise lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home is in the top 4.4% nationally. Crowded housing registers in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 6.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 80436, 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 75%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.6%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
80436
Coloradoshares a border
Score 55.95
Closest healthier
80444
Coloradoshares a border
Score 54.72
Similar health profile
59752
Montana96% similar profile
Score 53.57
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 | 27.5% | 24.1–31.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.7% | 26.6–35.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.1–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.2–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.8% | 29.4–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.6% | 19.7–34.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.5–11.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.2–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.1% | 68.3–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.1% | 67.8–76.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 83.5–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 59.4–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.9% | 57.1–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 62.5–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 15.3–22.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 11.6–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.4% | 14.8–22.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.3% | 24.8–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.4% | 14.6–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.6–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.7–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.0–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 10.6–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.8% | 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 | 14.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 54.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $67,034 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $355,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,444 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 3.58 | 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 3.58 years of 80.4, 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