ZIP code
85118
in Gold Canyon, ArizonaPopulation 14,932
56.96/ 100
Ranked #7,314 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #110 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #70 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
730 µg/L
in the top 0.02% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
51.3%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
112.1 days/year
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
5.4%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Park land
66.9%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
9.9%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
12.5%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
26.8%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.5%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.0%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Gold Canyon, Arizona (ZIP 85118), in overall standing, comes out in the top 23% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,314th) and the top 28% of Arizona (110th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 1.2% nationally, park land resides in the top 1.3% nationally, and modeled binge drinking sits in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 2.5% nationally, transportation resides in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and utility shutoff sits in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, lithium in drinking water stands in the top 0.02% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol resides in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits in the top 1.0% nationally, and hearing disability stands in the top 3.0% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, lithium in drinking water runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 85215, about 0.2 miles away.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 95.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 7.7 (bottom 10%) — 88 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #193 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
85119
Arizonashares a border
Score 50.36
Closest healthier
85215
Arizonaabout 0.2 mi away
Score 60.14
Similar health profile
33956
Florida99% similar profile
Score 56.57
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 | 41.9% | 38.6–45.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.7% | 44.1–51.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 17.6% | 16.1–19.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.1–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 51.3% | 47.8–54.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 29.6–38.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.6% | 7.0–10.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.2–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 85.6% | 83.2–87.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.9% | 82.8–86.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.4% | 92.5–94.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.6% | 71.1–78.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.2% | 66.5–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.9% | 65.8–77.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.3% | 7.7–11.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.5% | 19.1–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 27.8–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.6–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.8% | 30.9–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–14.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.8–10.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.3–6.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.8% | 23.6–30.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.0% | 3.4–4.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 86.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 53.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 66.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $86,393 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $481,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $1,387 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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