ZIP code
85206
in Mesa, ArizonaPopulation 37,235
55.92/ 100
Ranked #8,363 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #117 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #73 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (top 46%)
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
137.1 days/year
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
97.7%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
140 µg/L
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
4.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.8% 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 ›Dental provider access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.82 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
463 units
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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
By its overall health score, ZIP 85206, one of several in Mesa, Arizona lands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,363rd) and the top 30% of Arizona (117th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: physicians is in the top 1.8% nationally, and dental providers stands in the top 2.6% nationally. Outpatient settles in the top 3.0% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 4.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled extreme heat lands in the top 0.2% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 0.3% nationally, and lithium in drinking water sits in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled tree cover rests at the national minimum, and loud transportation noise is in the top 5.1% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, 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". Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 85207, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $75,607 predicts 79.0 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,930 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
85204
Arizonashares a border
Score 48.35
Closest healthier
85207
Arizonashares a border
Score 58.83
Similar health profile
34104
Florida99% 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 | 30.9% | 28.8–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 34.5–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.6% | 11.7–13.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 18.5% | 16.6–20.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.4% | 38.9–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.6% | 25.3–32.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.5–16.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.4% | 77.3–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.5% | 75.3–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.8–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 63.5–69.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 59.7–64.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 71.6–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.0% | 18.7–23.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.7% | 29.5–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.7–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.5–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.6–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.5–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.9% | 30.3–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 21.1–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 28.1–33.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 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) | 34.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 60.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 32.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 47.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $75,607 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $357,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $1,818 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 77.4, 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