ZIP code
85210
in Mesa, ArizonaPopulation 39,015
49.97/ 100
Ranked #16,291 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #206 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #110 of 159 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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
139 days/year
in the top 0.08% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
98.2%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & 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 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
3.0%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Colon-cancer screening
55.7%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST30thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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)
18.1%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.7%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
42.8%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 85210, one of several in Mesa, Arizona lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,291st) and the bottom 48% of Arizona (206th).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: modeled extreme heat lies in the top 0.08% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 0.2% nationally, and lithium in drinking water rests in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 3.7% nationally, tree cover resides at the national minimum, and colon screening settles in the bottom 5.7% nationally. PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and modeled uninsured sits in the top 6.4% nationally. Crowded housing lands in the top 5.9% nationally, and homeownership lies in the bottom 6.0% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. On the overall standing, ZIP 85201, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 88%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 27.3; chronic-disease standing 88.3 — 61 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,522 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
85201
Arizonashares a border
Score 50.51
Closest healthier
85202
Arizonashares a border
Score 52.83
Similar health profile
85326
Arizona98% similar profile
Score 50.50
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 | 19.4% | 17.8–20.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.4% | 25.4–29.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.7% | 5.3–6.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.9–21.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.9% | 30.7–35.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.9–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.1% | 16.3–20.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.4% | 63.9–68.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.4% | 66.6–72.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.5% | 78.5–82.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.7% | 52.5–59.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.0% | 49.3–54.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 69.0–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.1% | 20.8–25.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 34.9–42.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 19.4–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.9–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.4–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 15.4–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 28.8–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 11.1–13.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.1% | 25.8–30.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.8% | 21.0–24.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 15.3–18.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 32.4–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 42.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 41.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 9.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 32.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $61,957 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $337,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $1,497 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 77.8, 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