ZIP code
85205
in Mesa, ArizonaPopulation 45,116
55.22/ 100
Ranked #9,187 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #125 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #75 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
98.8%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
136.3 days/year
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
140 µg/L
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
180 intersections/sq mi
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
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 ›Transportation noise
11.0%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 85205, one of several in Mesa, Arizona stands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,187th) and the top 32% of Arizona (125th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: walkability resides in the top 3.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Working the other way, outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 0.2% nationally, modeled extreme heat stands in the top 0.2% nationally, and lithium in drinking water sits in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled tree cover resides at the national minimum, modeled transportation noise stands in the top 7.3% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the top 10.1% nationally. PFAS in drinking water resides in the top 10.8% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 85206, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 83%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
“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
85206
Arizonashares a border
Score 55.92
Closest healthier
85207
Arizonashares a border
Score 58.83
Similar health profile
34104
Florida98% similar profile
Score 55.99
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 | 31.0% | 29.0–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.0% | 34.7–39.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 11.0–12.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.2% | 17.4–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 11.4–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 39.1–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.2% | 26.9–33.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.6–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.6–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 75.0–79.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 87.1–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.2% | 64.0–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.8% | 59.2–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 71.4–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.1% | 19.0–23.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 30.4–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 17.3–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 13.0–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 12.1–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.8–14.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 30.0–34.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.6–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 21.3–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 27.8–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 57.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 28.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 49.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $73,283 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $339,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $1,446 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 79.8, 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