ZIP code
92126
in San Diego, CaliforniaPopulation 76,059
67.11/ 100
Ranked #1,260 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.0%)
Ranked #179 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 10.5%)
Ranked #20 of 106 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ZIPs (top 19%)
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
19.2%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
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 ›Hearing disability
4.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
26.3%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
2.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.2%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$126,913
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
97.8%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.4%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 92126, one of several in San Diego, California ranks in the top 4.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,260th) and the top 10.5% of California (179th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled obesity sits in the bottom 0.7% nationally, and lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 3.2% nationally, and high blood pressure resides in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 4.1% nationally, modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 3.5% nationally, and household income stands in the top 7.7% nationally. Home broadband subscription lies in the top 8.1% nationally, and modeled stroke lands in the bottom 5.4% nationally. On the other side, slow internet speeds sits in the top 5.5% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Close by, ZIP 92121, just across the boundary, ranks 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 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
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 82.7 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $126,913 predicts 81.0 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,165 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 82.7 ± 1.2 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.9 years — 1.8 years above them.
Ranked #1,457 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
92121
Californiashares a border
Score 68.58
Closest healthier
92129
Californiashares a border
Score 71.18
Similar health profile
94568
California99% similar profile
Score 72.96
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 | 16.1% | 14.6–17.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.3% | 24.2–28.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Depression among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–11.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.7% | 31.3–36.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 19.2% | 16.9–22.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.4–9.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.0% | 65.2–70.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.7% | 70.1–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 84.1–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.8% | 56.8–64.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.1% | 62.3–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 70.5–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.7% | 17.5–22.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 31.7–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.2–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.3% | 20.2–24.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.1% | 29.2–35.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 34.3–40.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 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 | 97.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 41.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 46.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 36.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $126,913 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $865,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,711 | $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 | 82.7 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 82.7, 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