ZIP code
90249
in Gardena, CaliforniaPopulation 26,290
54.78/ 100
Ranked #9,724 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #785 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #234 of 371 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Loneliness
42.4%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Crowded housing
11.1%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
170 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.6%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
2.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.6%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
43.9%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 90249, one of several in Gardena, California, by its composite score, sits in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,724th) and the top 46% of California (785th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum, and walkability lies in the top 4.1% nationally. Lead in tap water rests at the national minimum. Pulling the other way, modeled loneliness resides in the top 1.6% nationally, crowded housing is in the top 3.9% nationally, and modeled tree cover lands at the national minimum. Modeled loud transportation noise stands in the top 5.0% nationally, slow internet speeds registers in the top 5.2% nationally, and modeled fine-particle settles in the top 6.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 6.3% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 90504, 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 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 85%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
“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 3.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 85.2 — 81 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,291 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
90044
Californiashares a border
Score 34.58
Closest healthier
90504
Californiashares a border
Score 62.47
Similar health profile
92841
California98% similar profile
Score 53.28
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 | 20.6% | 19.0–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 30.7–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.9% | 16.1–19.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.7–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.3% | 24.5–30.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.9% | 8.1–11.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 9.7–12.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 71.4–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.7% | 71.5–75.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.5–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.1% | 53.7–60.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.0% | 56.5–61.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 71.8–80.7 |
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 | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 24.3–29.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.8% | 35.8–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 22.5–26.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.9–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.8–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.8–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 29.6–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 14.0–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| 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 | 34.5% | 31.8–37.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.9% | 19.8–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.6% | 16.9–20.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 42.4% | 39.6–45.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 30.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 45.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 15.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 39.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $89,712 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $768,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,775 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,912 ($1,113–$2,923) n=1,461 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.6 yr ± 0.64 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.5 yr (76.7–83.8) n=1,665 |
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 0.64 years of 79.6, 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