ZIP code
90621
in Buena Park, CaliforniaPopulation 35,984
57.19/ 100
Ranked #7,090 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #663 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #204 of 371 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ZIPs (bottom 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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
65.6%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
5.2%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
18.7%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
23.5%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.8%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
54.3%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
16.2%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
34.8%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST12thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
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 ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 90621, one of several in Buena Park, California lands in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,090th) and the top 39% of California (663rd).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled obesity lies in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and walkability lands in the top 4.5% nationally. Set against that, outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 0.7% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise is in the top 1.2% nationally. Crowded housing settles in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled fine-particle resides in the top 2.6% nationally, and modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the top 3.7% nationally, homeownership stands in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 90620, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 96%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 0.5 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 96.0 (top 10%) — 96 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #18,125 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 80.8 ± 1.9 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
90620
Californiashares a border
Score 57.79
Closest healthier
90638
Californiashares a border
Score 61.01
Similar health profile
90065
California99% similar profile
Score 55.71
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 | 15.7% | 14.0–17.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.0% | 24.5–29.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.4–38.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.5% | 20.3–27.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 8.9–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.0% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.8% | 67.8–73.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.6% | 68.4–74.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.2–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 54.3% | 50.0–58.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.5% | 56.6–62.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 71.9–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 24.7–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.6% | 33.8–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 20.6–25.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.8–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 25.3–30.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.4% | 29.1–35.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 17.8–23.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 33.8–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 34.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 18.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 41.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 46.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 11.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $97,612 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $832,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,167 | $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 | 80.8 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 80.8, 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