ZIP code
86504
in Fort Defiance, ArizonaPopulation 5,760
29.89/ 100
Ranked #30,784 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.0%)
Ranked #350 of 394 Arizona ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
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.
Mammography
58.2%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST12thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
45.8%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.9%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
15.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
22.5%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
21.5%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
33.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22.6%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.5%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
12.6%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its severe level: severe means at least four of the six health-need readings and at least four of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
- Chronic conditions
Barriers to reaching care
- Distance to the nearest emergency room
- Distance to the nearest community health center
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
By the composite measure, Fort Defiance, Arizona (ZIP 86504) sits in the bottom 4.0% nationally (30,784th) and the bottom 11.2% of Arizona (350th).
What the data shows most clearly about this place comes first: modeled mammography rests in the bottom 0.6% nationally, colon screening sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and vision disability registers in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lands in the top 2.1% nationally, transportation resides in the top 1.2% nationally, and utility shutoff lies in the top 1.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health settles in the top 3.7% nationally, and cognitive disability stands in the top 3.0% nationally. Modeled self-care disability is in the top 4.1% nationally, and hearing disability rests in the top 2.8% nationally.
ZIP 86511, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall. This ZIP also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.3%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 99%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 75.1 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $46,573 predicts 77.1 years — 2.0 years below.
Ranked #2,564 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 99.4 (top 1%); chronic-disease standing 15.7 — 84 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #333 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
86505
Arizonashares a border
Score 20.66
Closest healthier
86511
Arizonashares a border
Score 30.03
Similar health profile
86535
Arizona98% similar profile
Score 21.06
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 | 27.3% | 25.2–29.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 32.9–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 15.2% | 13.8–16.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.7–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.2% | 16.5–20.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.3% | 29.6–35.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 33.3–42.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 27.8% | 24.2–31.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.8% | 11.6–16.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 71.5–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.8% | 67.7–73.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 77.3% | 75.0–79.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 45.8% | 41.6–50.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 42.2% | 39.1–45.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 58.2% | 51.1–65.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 25.3% | 22.3–28.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.6% | 26.1–33.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.3% | 38.6–48.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.6% | 30.4–36.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.8% | 20.7–25.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 21.3% | 19.3–23.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.6% | 20.2–25.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.5% | 41.8–49.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.5–13.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.5% | 20.3–24.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 37.5% | 33.9–40.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 38.8% | 34.6–43.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 32.8% | 28.9–36.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.9% | 23.8–30.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 22.5% | 20.1–24.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.2% | 32.7–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–23.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AZ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.8% (4.6–36.9%) n=396 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 37.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.0–32.9%) n=394 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.3% (2.0–25.9%) n=397 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.8% (6.0–53.1%) n=397 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.3%) n=395 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–14.3%) n=394 |
| Broadband subscription | 59.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (57.1–97.2%) n=394 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.5% (8.5–37.5%) n=394 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 76.3% (44.6–92.8%) n=394 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–15.7%) n=394 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.6% (0.0–20.4%) n=397 |
| Single-parent households | 30.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.4% (30.6–79.7%) n=388 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (8.0–46.8%) n=397 |
| Median age | 33.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.9 yr (30.0–62.5) n=394 |
| Median household income | $46,573 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,137 ($39,000–$114,111) n=371 |
| Median home value | $45,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $326,300 ($73,560–$591,760) n=363 |
| Median gross rent | $844 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 75.1, 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