ZIP code
85173
in Superior, ArizonaPopulation 2,600
46.49/ 100
Ranked #20,775 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #252 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #127 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Park land
82.8%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
69.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
100 µg/L
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
19.3%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
16.7 mi
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
45.4%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
18.6%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
73.3%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Superior, Arizona (ZIP 85173) ranks in the bottom 35% nationally (20,775th) and the bottom 36% of Arizona (252nd).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: fatal road crashes lands in the top 1.4% nationally, and lithium in drinking water sits in the top 2.2% nationally. Modeled uninsured is in the top 5.1% nationally, and distance to a nursing home settles in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 5.1% nationally, high cholesterol registers in the top 3.7% nationally, and diabetes rests in the top 6.5% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands in the bottom 8.3% nationally. On the brighter side, park land lies in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 5.8% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Close by, ZIP 85118, 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. 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 99%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
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 86.7; chronic-disease standing 22.0 — 65 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,413 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
85118
Arizonashares a border
Score 56.96
Closest healthier
85137
Arizonashares a border
Score 48.49
Similar health profile
79021
Texas95% similar profile
Score 43.38
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 | 31.5% | 28.7–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 38.4–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.6% | 16.5–20.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.4% | 42.2–48.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.8% | 36.2–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.2% | 15.3–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.3% | 15.4–23.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.6% | 78.1–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.4–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.4–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.8% | 56.3–65.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.5% | 49.2–55.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.6% | 62.1–74.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.8% | 10.0–13.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.7% | 28.6–37.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.2% | 35.2–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.8% | 24.4–31.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.5% | 34.7–42.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–11.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.5% | 17.9–23.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.3% | 22.2–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.7% | 18.1–25.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–16.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.4–17.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 28.0–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 73.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 61.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 36.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 53.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $46,128 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $147,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $881 | $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 | 72.9 yr ± 2.91 | 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 2.91 years of 72.9, 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