ZIP code
92120
in San Diego, CaliforniaPopulation 31,915
65.22/ 100
Ranked #1,914 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.0%)
Ranked #259 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 15%)
Ranked #29 of 106 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ZIPs (top 27%)
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.
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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.9%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Physician access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Park land
16.8%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
5.5%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.3%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS6thDefinition & 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
28.4%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$120,661
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST73rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 92120, one of several in San Diego, California, overall, ranks in the top 6.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,914th) and the top 15% of California (259th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled obesity settles in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Physicians lands in the top 7.3% nationally, and park land lies in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled tooth loss stands in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and diabetes rests in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 6.0% nationally, and high blood pressure resides in the bottom 6.8% nationally. On the other side, modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 4.1% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 92131, about 1.8 miles away, comes out healthier 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 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.3 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $120,661 predicts 80.8 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,246 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 37.0; chronic-disease standing 94.3 (top 10%) — 57 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,137 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
91942
Californiashares a border
Score 59.17
Closest healthier
92131
Californiaabout 1.8 mi away
Score 72.25
Similar health profile
92010
California100% similar profile
Score 64.88
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 | 20.8% | 18.9–22.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.4% | 26.0–31.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 19.7–24.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.5% | 30.9–36.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.7% | 20.7–27.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.5% | 4.4–6.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.3% | 66.5–72.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.6% | 72.1–77.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 86.4–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 63.5–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.1% | 68.5–73.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 74.0–84.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.1% | 28.8–35.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 14.1–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.2% | 21.8–26.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 22.4–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 30.9–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 60.1% | 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 | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 42.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $120,661 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $924,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,457 | $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 | 82.3 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 82.3, 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