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ZipVitals

ZIP code

93270

in Terra Bella, CaliforniaPopulation 5,482

40.83/ 100

Ranked #26,165 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 18%)

Ranked #1,480 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 14.0%)

Ranked #12 of 31 Visalia, CA ZIPs (top 39%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

50%

in the bottom 2.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST9th
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

7.1%

in the top 0.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Dry extreme heat

112 days/year

in the top 1.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

20.2%

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Crowded housing

14.1%

in the top 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.

Full methodology ›

Nitrate in drinking water

12.2%

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

40 per million

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST73rd
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Unemployment rate

13.6%

in the top 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US95th
Definition & source ›

The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

22.4%

in the top 6.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

30%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Cross-source signals

Health need and barriers to care documented here

On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.

These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.

Health need documented here

  • People without health insurance
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing insecurity
  • Adults reporting fair or poor health

Barriers to reaching care

  • Thin local supply of doctors
  • Thin local supply of pharmacies
  • Limited home internet for telehealth

A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.

See the full care-deserts analysis →

The read

Terra Bella, California (ZIP 93270), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 18% nationally (26,165th) and the bottom 14.0% of California (1,480th).

continue reading

Here the data is straightforward about what defines the area: modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 2.0% nationally, fine-particle registers in the top 0.5% nationally, and extreme heat is in the top 1.0% nationally. Modeled uninsured lies in the top 4.4% nationally, crowded housing registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled nitrate is in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally, and unemployment registers in the top 4.8% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity is in the top 6.2% nationally, and fair or poor health lies in the top 8.4% nationally.

Defined simply, for reference, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 93218, just across the boundary. Beyond that, the ZIP also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 77%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 62%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 46%

8%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 5%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 6%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 2%

13%

Disability

healthier than 24%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 11%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 43%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 9%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 26%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 8%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 20%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 37%

8%

Disability

healthier than 23%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 10%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 40%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 73%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 73%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 60%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 73%

8%

Disability

healthier than 73%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 63%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 53%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 50%

13%

Holding it back

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.

  • Heavy environment, light chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 6.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 76.7 — 71 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #16,430 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.6 ± 2.2 years.

    Ranked #504 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults20.3%17.7–23.0
High blood pressure among adults31.3%27.6–35.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults5.4%4.8–6.0
Current asthma among adults9.8%8.6–11.1
Coronary heart disease among adults6.3%5.6–7.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.7%5.0–6.5
Depression among adults21.3%18.1–24.8
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.5%11.7–15.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.7%30.7–38.9
Obesity among adults34.6%28.0–41.9
Stroke among adults3.5%3.1–3.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.9%16.4–23.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years20.2%16.6–24.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure69.3%65.8–72.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults67.8%63.5–72.0
Cholesterol screening among adults81.8%79.2–84.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years50.0%44.7–55.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults46.8%43.1–50.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years67.9%59.4–75.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.9%13.1–19.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.2%11.2–15.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults33.6%28.5–38.8
Short sleep duration among adults35.6%29.9–41.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults30.0%26.4–33.7
Frequent mental distress among adults18.5%16.4–20.7
Frequent physical distress among adults16.6%14.7–18.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults18.8%16.4–21.2
Any disability among adults37.0%32.4–41.8
Hearing disability among adults6.8%6.0–7.6
Independent living disability among adults10.3%9.1–11.6
Mobility disability among adults17.4%15.1–19.6
Self-care disability among adults5.2%4.7–5.8
Vision disability among adults8.3%7.4–9.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults30.2%26.4–34.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults27.3%23.5–31.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults23.4%20.1–26.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults22.4%19.5–25.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults13.4%11.7–15.3
Loneliness among adults37.6%32.7–42.7
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults10.7%9.3–12.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714
Uninsured 18–6413.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704
No HS diploma (25+)28.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729
Bachelor's or higher (25+)6.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50531.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729
Unemployment rate (16+)13.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2746.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714
Households without a vehicle1.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708
Broadband subscription89.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32293.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)29.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32238.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708
Homeownership rate67.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32264.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708
Crowded housing (>1 per room)14.1%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3224.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708
Foreign-born population23.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,55318.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730
Single-parent households49.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692
Population 65+17.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730
Median age37.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712
Median household income$67,136$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584
Median home value$308,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593
Median gross rent$1,059$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,912 ($1,113–$2,923) n=1,461
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth78.6 yr ± 1.1078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.5 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 1.10 years of 78.6, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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