ZIP code
81123
in Blanca, ColoradoPopulation 606
46.25/ 100
Ranked #21,036 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #441 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (bottom 12.2%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
7.0%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
63%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
41%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
2.8 days/year
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
6.2%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
21.5 mi
in the top 4.2% 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
11.4 mi
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›The read
Blanca, Colorado (ZIP 81123) ranks in the bottom 34% nationally (21,036th) and the bottom 12.2% of Colorado (441st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled energy burden settles in the top 1.2% nationally, and mammography rests in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and slow internet speeds settles in the top 2.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests in the top 8.7% nationally. More positively, childcare lands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 4.2% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 81101, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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
81101
Coloradoshares a border
Score 51.90
Closest healthier
81146
Coloradoshares a border
Score 49.78
Similar health profile
83423
Idaho95% similar profile
Score 44.58
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 | 30.0% | 26.4–33.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.1% | 31.8–40.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.6–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.1–17.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.1–42.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.8% | 23.3–39.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.6% | 14.4–21.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.0% | 13.3–19.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 72.8–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.2% | 70.0–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.3–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.2% | 52.2–64.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.8% | 49.8–57.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 63.0% | 53.3–72.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.4–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 11.9–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 21.9–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 25.6–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.3% | 20.9–27.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 30.6–40.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.1–20.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 58.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 21.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 46.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $36,487 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $152,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 0.93 | 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 0.93 years of 80.1, 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