ZIP code
93442
in Morro Bay, CaliforniaPopulation 11,571
62.08/ 100
Ranked #3,480 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 10.9%)
Ranked #405 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #8 of 21 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA ZIPs (top 38%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
3 days/year
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.26 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Obesity
26%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.5%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Short sleep
29.5%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
14.5%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Morro Bay, California (ZIP 93442) lands in the top 10.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,480th) and the top 24% of California (405th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 1.8% nationally, grocery registers in the top 4.6% nationally, and modeled obesity resides in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 4.2% nationally, recreation is in the top 7.9% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the bottom 8.6% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden lies in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Park land stands in the top 9.1% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 4.1% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. On the overall standing, ZIP 93402, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.2 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $95,623 predicts 79.9 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,100 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 78.2 ± 1.4 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.3 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,439 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
93402
Californiashares a border
Score 63.68
Closest healthier
93430
Californiashares a border
Score 62.81
Similar health profile
94973
California99% similar profile
Score 66.28
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 | 29.6% | 26.5–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 33.1–40.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.8–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.7–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 34.6–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.0% | 20.9–31.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 8.8–13.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.7–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.5–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 73.2–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.3% | 89.0–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 65.0–74.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.2% | 67.9–74.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 70.4–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.9–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.7% | 8.1–11.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.3% | 16.2–22.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 24.3–35.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.8–33.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.0–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.1–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 27.0–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 66.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 32.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 54.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $95,623 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $918,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,855 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.69 | 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 0.69 years of 78.2, 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