ZIP code
93109
in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaPopulation 10,915
62.86/ 100
Ranked #3,051 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.6%)
Ranked #370 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #7 of 23 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ZIPs (top 30%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.2%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.2%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
1.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
42%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Park land
16.1%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$123,347
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.36 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 93109, one of several in Santa Barbara, California stands in the top 9.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,051st) and the top 22% of California (370th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and obesity lies in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Lead in tap water is at the national minimum, and modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 2.0% nationally. Fatal road crashes lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally, modeled short sleep is in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and park land registers in the top 8.4% nationally. Household income lies in the top 8.6% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 9.9% nationally. Working the other way, housing-cost burden registers in the top 8.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. ZIP 93105, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 82.6 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $123,347 predicts 80.9 years — 1.7 years above.
Ranked #1,109 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
93101
Californiashares a border
Score 54.53
Closest healthier
93105
Californiashares a border
Score 66.33
Similar health profile
94954
California97% similar profile
Score 61.64
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 | 24.8% | 22.0–27.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.5–35.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.5–26.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.3% | 30.6–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.2% | 19.4–29.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.9% | 8.0–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.7–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.0% | 69.8–76.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.8% | 70.2–77.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.4–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 63.3–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 66.2–72.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 68.8–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.3–20.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.2% | 7.7–10.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.3% | 15.2–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 24.5–34.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 25.1–32.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.2–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.6–12.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.1–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 28.2–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 58.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 25.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $123,347 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,882,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,823 | $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 | 82.6 yr ± 0.86 | 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 0.86 years of 82.6, 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