ZIP code
80481
in Ward, ColoradoPopulation 484
68.94/ 100
Ranked #779 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.5%)
Ranked #14 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (top 2.8%)
Ranked #5 of 17 Boulder, CO ZIPs (top 29%)
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.
Obesity
16.8%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
22.8%
in the bottom 0.03% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Park land
69.5%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
2.1 days/year
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
24.2%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
7.5%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
10.8%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
7.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
7.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
Ward, Colorado (ZIP 80481), by its overall standing, sits in the top 2.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (779th) and the top 2.8% of Colorado (14th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled obesity is in the bottom 0.3% nationally, modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 0.03% nationally, and park land rests in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled humid heat lies in the bottom 1.3% nationally, high blood pressure sits in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and pfas settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health registers in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and mobility disability stands in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lands in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and diabetes is in the bottom 2.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 80455, 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 Boulder, 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Risk Behavior
in the top 1.0%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.4%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
80446
Coloradoshares a border
Score 60.49
Closest healthier
80455
Coloradoshares a border
Score 69.08
Similar health profile
80108
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 67.96
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 | 23.6% | 21.2–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.2% | 21.6–26.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.4–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.7–25.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 29.9–36.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 16.8% | 13.9–20.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.7% | 4.4–7.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.0–6.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.4% | 66.7–74.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.2% | 69.1–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.9% | 88.5–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.4% | 63.6–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.0% | 73.4–78.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 69.8–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.1–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 10.0% | 8.3–12.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 22.8% | 19.4–26.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 19.9% | 17.4–22.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 59.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 98.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 62.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 24.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 47.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $116,563 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $710,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 82.2, 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