ZIP code
92021
in El Cajon, CaliforniaPopulation 70,501
49.24/ 100
Ranked #17,325 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #1,123 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #100 of 106 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ZIPs (bottom 5.7%)
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.
Loud transportation noise
7.2%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
26.1%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
48.4%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
10.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
397 units
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
39.6 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 92021, one of several in El Cajon, California ranks in the bottom 46% nationally (17,325th) and the bottom 35% of California (1,123rd).
The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 0.6% nationally, and transportation noise lies in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled disaster risk resides in the top 2.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the top 3.7% nationally. Crowded housing registers in the top 4.6% nationally, homeownership sits in the bottom 11.2% nationally, and modeled loneliness rests in the top 11.2% nationally. Better still, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 6.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure settles in the bottom 13.4% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, loud transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer 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. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 91901, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 79%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
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
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 77.1 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $74,013 predicts 78.9 years — 1.8 years below.
Ranked #2,203 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 77.1 ± 0.8 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.4 years — 3.3 years below them.
Ranked #2,568 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 14.9; chronic-disease standing 79.1 — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,824 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
91901
Californiashares a border
Score 57.63
Closest healthier
92019
Californiashares a border
Score 56.45
Similar health profile
60115
Illinois96% similar profile
Score 48.50
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% | 20.9–25.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.8% | 29.4–34.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 22.0–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 31.9–37.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.4% | 26.1–33.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.3–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.3% | 65.4–71.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.3% | 69.6–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 82.2–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.3% | 56.2–64.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.9% | 56.0–61.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 68.2–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 22.1–27.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.8–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.7% | 21.7–26.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.7–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.5–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.9–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 29.6–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.8–16.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1 |
| 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 | 29.4% | 26.5–32.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 18.6–23.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.8% | 19.7–24.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.3% | 34.1–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 48.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 22.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 41.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 36.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $74,013 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $611,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,893 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 0.41 | 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 0.41 years of 77.1, 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