ZIP code
93257
in Porterville, CaliforniaPopulation 80,467
37.88/ 100
Ranked #28,081 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
Ranked #1,557 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 9.5%)
Ranked #16 of 31 Visalia, CA ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
7.2%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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
50.2%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
49.3 per million
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
101.6 days/year
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
29.6%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
876 units
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
20.2%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
32.2%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.8%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.5%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 93257, one of several in Porterville, California, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 12.5% nationally (28,081st) and the bottom 9.5% of California (1,557th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled fine-particle is in the top 0.5% nationally, colon screening rests in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 1.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers in the top 1.4% nationally, nitrate lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and uninsured resides in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lies in the top 5.1% nationally, and crowded housing settles in the top 3.5% nationally. Modeled vision disability stands in the top 6.0% nationally. On the encouraging side, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 1.9% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 93207, 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 Visalia, 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 71%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
“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 76.5 ± 0.7 years. A median household income of $59,704 predicts 78.0 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,974 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 3.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 71.1 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,218 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 49.3 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.5 ± 0.7 years.
Ranked #206 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
93207
Californiashares a border
Score 42.53
Closest healthier
93218
Californiashares a border
Score 41.66
Similar health profile
95823
California99% similar profile
Score 42.19
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 | 20.9% | 18.3–23.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.4–35.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 19.5–26.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 30.6–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 29.0–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.1% | 15.0–21.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.2% | 17.9–22.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.7% | 65.4–71.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 67.5% | 63.2–71.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.9% | 77.6–82.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 50.2% | 45.0–55.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.0% | 47.3–54.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.3% | 62.2–77.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 12.9–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.9% | 30.4–39.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 29.5–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 32.2% | 29.1–35.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–22.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.4–22.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.9% | 34.7–43.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.7–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.8–10.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.8% | 26.1–33.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.2% | 27.8–34.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 29.8% | 26.8–32.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.3% | 21.6–27.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.7% | 33.0–42.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 31.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 26.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 37.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 12.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 30.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $59,704 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $288,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,124 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.37 | 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 0.37 years of 76.4, 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