ZIP code
81403
in Montrose, ColoradoPopulation 12,138
54.26/ 100
Ranked #10,360 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #263 of 502 Colorado 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.
Radon
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Park land
22.7%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
17.1 per million
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.5%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.7 ppb
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US92ndDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
9.0%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS80thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 81403, one of several in Montrose, Colorado ranks in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,360th) and the bottom 48% of Colorado (263rd).
A number of measures place this area on solid footing: park land stands in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and obesity sits in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Floodplain exposure is in the bottom 10.8% nationally, and modeled tree cover settles in the top 17% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon resides in the top 5.0% nationally, lead in tap water registers in the top 8.3% nationally, and modeled disaster risk rests in the top 11.2% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the bottom 14.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Close by, ZIP 81220, 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
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
“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
81220
Coloradoshares a border
Score 61.38
Closest healthier
81401
Coloradoshares a border
Score 54.31
Similar health profile
83872
Idaho95% similar profile
Score 56.51
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 | 32.0% | 28.9–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 31.5–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.3–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 19.6–26.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.8–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.5% | 22.0–34.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.2–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.5–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.6–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.6% | 71.2–78.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.6–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 61.9–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 59.8–66.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.0% | 61.9–77.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.4–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.6% | 17.4–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 24.2–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.7–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.2–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.9% | 28.2–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.0% | 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 | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 68.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 29.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 50.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $80,893 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $515,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,369 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 80.0, 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