ZIP code
90620
in Buena Park, CaliforniaPopulation 46,608
57.79/ 100
Ranked #6,572 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #626 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #192 of 371 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
99.9%
in the top 0.06% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was 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 ›Obesity
23.7%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
3.9%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.4%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›Crowded housing
9.6%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 90620, one of several in Buena Park, California stands in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,572nd) and the top 36% of California (626th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled obesity settles in the bottom 3.8% nationally. On the other side, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 0.06% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 2.3% nationally, loud transportation noise rests in the top 2.3% nationally, and fine-particle lands in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 4.5% nationally, modeled tree cover rests at the national minimum, and PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Crowded housing settles in the top 5.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. ZIP 90623, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 0.7 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 91.5 (top 10%) — 91 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,930 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.3 ± 1.0 years.
Ranked #504 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
90621
Californiashares a border
Score 57.19
Closest healthier
90623
Californiashares a border
Score 64.97
Similar health profile
90755
California99% similar profile
Score 60.62
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 | 18.6% | 16.7–20.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.4% | 26.8–32.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 34.2–40.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.7% | 20.3–27.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.4–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 70.6–76.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.1% | 70.1–76.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 85.0–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.8% | 54.6–62.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.5–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 72.3–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 23.7–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.6–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.4% | 20.2–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.7–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.4–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 26.0–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.1–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.7% | 27.5–33.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.3% | 32.6–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 29.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 46.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 15.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 38.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $126,094 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $840,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,351 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 0.53 | 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 0.53 years of 80.3, 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