ZIP code
81501
in Grand Junction, ColoradoPopulation 24,011
49.52/ 100
Ranked #16,915 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #375 of 502 Colorado ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #16 of 17 Grand Junction, CO ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)
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.
Mammography
62.9%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
27.9%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Physician access
3.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.79 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Transit access
5.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.71 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Lead in tap water
7.1 ppb
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
US94thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 81501, one of several in Grand Junction, Colorado ranks in the bottom 47% nationally (16,915th) and the bottom 25% of Colorado (375th).
Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled mammography settles in the bottom 1.5% nationally, and tree cover lies at the national minimum. On the encouraging side, modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and dental providers lands in the top 1.9% nationally. Physicians registers in the top 2.5% nationally, outpatient sits in the top 3.1% nationally, and transit rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Childcare is in the top 5.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 5.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 81503, 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 Grand Junction, 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 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.0 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $53,666 predicts 77.6 years — 2.6 years below.
Ranked #3,559 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.0 ± 1.3 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.2 years — 5.2 years below them.
Ranked #3,415 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
81503
Coloradoshares a border
Score 51.61
Closest healthier
81504
Coloradoshares a border
Score 49.68
Similar health profile
97026
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 48.29
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 | 23.5% | 21.2–26.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.4% | 24.5–30.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 22.3–29.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 27.9% | 24.9–31.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.5% | 25.5–36.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.3% | 12.5–18.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.4% | 11.6–15.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.9% | 64.0–69.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.0% | 64.1–71.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 78.0% | 75.6–80.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.7% | 56.1–65.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 52.8–59.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 62.9% | 54.9–70.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.1–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.5% | 18.3–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.4% | 26.9–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.4–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–22.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.8–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 29.7–37.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.1% (2.3–21.1%) n=507 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.9% (1.9–21.6%) n=503 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.0% (0.0–16.3%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 33.9% (14.8–65.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.6% (0.0–7.7%) n=505 |
| Households without a vehicle | 14.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.9% (0.0–9.4%) n=507 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.5% (79.4–98.7%) n=507 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (15.9–42.9%) n=507 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.7% (51.5–93.8%) n=507 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.3%) n=507 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–14.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 52.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.4% (40.1–81.1%) n=500 |
| Population 65+ | 18.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.6% (9.2–36.4%) n=508 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (33.4–58.2) n=502 |
| Median household income | $53,666 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,602 ($48,743–$134,919) n=470 |
| Median home value | $314,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $458,400 ($191,360–$800,020) n=469 |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $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 | 75.0 yr ± 0.68 | 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 0.68 years of 75.0, 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