ZIP code
81040
in Gardner, ColoradoPopulation 360
56.19/ 100
Ranked #8,078 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #233 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
3 days/year
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 a hazardous-chemical facility
26.4 mi
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.8%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
67.1%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Park land
27.2%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST30thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
13.2 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.9%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.05%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Gardner, Colorado (ZIP 81040) sits in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,078th) and the top 46% of Colorado (233rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 1.8% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 2.7% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Park land resides in the top 5.3% nationally, modeled obesity lies in the bottom 8.9% nationally, and modeled transportation noise settles in the bottom 7.3% nationally. On the other hand, modeled energy burden stands in the top 3.5% nationally, and home broadband subscription is in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Walkability rests in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and distance to a nursing home sits in the top 6.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. ZIP 81055, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
81055
Coloradoshares a border
Score 58.07
Closest healthier
81201
Coloradoabout 37 mi away
Score 60.06
Similar health profile
82433
Wyoming97% similar profile
Score 57.34
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 | 33.0% | 28.9–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 32.1–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 16.6–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.0–45.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.9% | 20.0–34.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 8.8–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.9% | 8.3–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 74.5–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.3–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.9% | 89.5–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.4% | 63.2–73.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.8% | 61.1–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.1% | 62.3–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 9.2–13.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.4% | 15.7–23.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 23.6–36.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 14.9–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 26.1–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.0–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 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+) | 30.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 67.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 93.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 54.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 65.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $30,978 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | — | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 2.01 | 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 2.01 years of 81.4, 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