ZIP code
93268
in Taft, CaliforniaPopulation 16,963
37.60/ 100
Ranked #28,236 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.0%)
Ranked #1,565 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 9.0%)
Ranked #24 of 48 Bakersfield-Delano, CA ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Colon-cancer screening
52%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
93.4 days/year
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.8%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
9.1%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
22.8%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
17.9%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
15.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
28.7%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Taft, California (ZIP 93268) stands in the bottom 12.0% nationally (28,236th) and the bottom 9.0% of California (1,565th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled colon screening settles in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and extreme heat rests in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lands in the top 4.2% nationally, and tree cover settles at the national minimum. Crowded housing rests in the top 5.3% nationally, modeled housing insecurity lands in the top 5.8% nationally, and modeled uninsured settles in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled transportation rests in the top 6.1% nationally, and food insecurity lands in the top 7.2% nationally. More positively, lead in tap water settles at the national minimum.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. ZIP 93311, about 0.4 miles away, 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 Bakersfield-Delano, 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 69%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
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
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.9 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $57,778 predicts 77.9 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,154 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 74.9 ± 2.3 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.5 years — 3.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,771 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
93224
Californiashares a border
Score 34.03
Closest healthier
93311
Californiaabout 0.4 mi away
Score 56.71
Similar health profile
89115
Nevada98% similar profile
Score 31.06
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 | 21.6% | 19.2–24.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.7% | 28.5–35.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.3% | 22.1–28.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.3% | 28.9–35.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.1% | 31.5–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.8–25.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.9% | 15.5–20.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 65.7% | 62.4–68.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.6% | 64.7–72.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 78.4% | 76.2–80.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.0% | 47.1–56.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.6% | 44.1–51.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.9% | 62.4–77.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.6% | 15.3–20.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 28.2–36.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.9% | 34.8–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.8% | 26.6–32.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.3% | 20.0–24.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.8% | 19.5–24.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.7% | 35.6–43.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.4% | 26.8–34.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.7% | 25.4–32.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 28.9% | 25.8–32.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.8% | 20.2–25.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.1% | 33.6–42.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 7.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 46.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 9.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 31.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $57,778 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $236,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,061 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 1.18 | 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 1.18 years of 74.9, 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