ZIP code
85020
in Phoenix, ArizonaPopulation 34,916
57.18/ 100
Ranked #7,098 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #108 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #68 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Dry extreme heat
134.8 days/year
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
72.8%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
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 ›Transit access
4.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
70 µg/L
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Park land
23.7%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 85020, one of several in Phoenix, Arizona, by its composite score, sits in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,098th) and the top 27% of Arizona (108th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: transit rests in the top 5.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Park land is in the top 5.9% nationally, outpatient lands in the top 7.2% nationally, and physicians stands in the top 7.4% nationally. On the other side, modeled extreme heat registers in the top 0.3% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits at the national minimum. Modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 5.8% nationally, and lithium in drinking water rests in the top 5.9% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 85012, 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 19.4; chronic-disease standing 73.5 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,813 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
85012
Arizonashares a border
Score 62.05
Closest healthier
85016
Arizonashares a border
Score 59.69
Similar health profile
85213
Arizona98% similar profile
Score 57.50
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 | 26.0% | 24.1–27.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 30.2–34.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 9.0–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 18.8% | 17.0–20.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 35.9–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.2% | 26.9–33.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.8% | 8.3–11.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.9% | 72.5–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 72.6–77.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.9–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.2% | 60.1–66.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 60.3–65.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.8% | 71.3–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 30.8–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 16.0–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.9–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 26.6–31.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 21.5–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 28.1–33.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 51.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 45.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $83,735 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $447,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $1,530 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,303 ($683–$2,093) n=323 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.7 yr ± 0.95 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.5 yr (75.1–82.8) n=354 |
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 0.95 years of 77.7, 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