ZIP code
88220
in Carlsbad, New MexicoPopulation 39,828
48.00/ 100
Ranked #18,914 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #152 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
88.4 days/year
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.7 per million
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
57.4%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST44thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.6%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS89thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
172 units
in the top 13.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
2.2%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
32.1%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Stroke
3.3%
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Carlsbad, New Mexico (ZIP 88220) lands in the bottom 41% nationally (18,914th) and the top 45% of New Mexico (152nd).
The measures split the difference for this area: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Park land lies in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Against that, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 2.1% nationally, extreme heat registers in the top 3.5% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 8.1% nationally, uninsured is in the top 8.1% nationally, and expected annual loss stands in the top 11.3% nationally. Modeled mammography settles in the bottom 12.0% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 88210, 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.
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 76%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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
3 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 74.4 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $78,162 predicts 79.1 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,433 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.1 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.7 years — 4.3 years below them.
Ranked #3,140 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #1,484 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
79837
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 29.64
Closest healthier
88210
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 49.60
Similar health profile
79762
Texas97% similar profile
Score 49.65
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 | 22.8% | 20.0–25.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.1% | 28.4–36.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.7–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.3% | 29.3–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 32.4–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.6–17.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.6% | 14.5–18.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.5% | 68.0–74.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 66.1% | 61.5–70.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.7% | 79.5–83.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.4% | 52.2–62.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.8% | 55.1–62.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.5% | 61.3–76.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.6–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 22.5–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.4% | 33.2–45.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 20.0–25.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.1% | 29.1–37.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.3–28.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.4% | 16.9–22.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 30.0–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.0–11.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 53.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 16.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $78,162 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $206,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $1,241 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $917 ($549–$1,408) n=173 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.4 yr ± 0.54 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.5 yr (76.1–83.2) n=357 |
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 0.54 years of 74.4, 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