ZIP code
93450
in San Ardo, CaliforniaPopulation 668
54.65/ 100
Ranked #9,895 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #791 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #13 of 28 Salinas, CA ZIPs (top 46%)
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 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
19.2%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.6%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
36.2%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
4.8%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
44.2%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.6%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
12 mi
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, San Ardo, California (ZIP 93450) lands in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,895th) and the top 46% of California (791st).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits at the national maximum. Households without a vehicle is at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. On the other side, unemployment settles in the top 2.2% nationally, crowded housing resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and poverty registers in the top 4.1% nationally. Modeled nitrate rests in the top 4.2% nationally, housing-cost burden stands in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled disaster risk lies in the top 6.1% nationally. Slow internet speeds lands in the top 7.0% nationally.
A note on the terms: industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 93451, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 Salinas, 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 86%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
93210
Californiashares a border
Score 41.55
Closest healthier
93451
Californiashares a border
Score 54.79
Similar health profile
85533
Arizona92% similar profile
Score 55.73
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 | 20.5% | 18.0–23.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.4% | 27.9–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 18.3% | 15.6–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 30.6–38.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.1% | 25.2–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.2–14.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.7% | 11.5–18.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.4% | 67.2–73.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.3% | 67.5–75.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 81.9–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 57.0–66.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.2% | 56.4–63.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.1–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.0–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.1% | 8.3–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 20.5–28.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 28.1–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 19.8–26.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.8–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.0–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 26.2–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 22.7–30.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 15.0–21.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 13.5–19.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.2–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 36.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 45.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 7.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 19.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 29.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 47.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 10.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 26.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $461,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,083 | $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 | 86.4 yr ± 3.29 | 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 3.29 years of 86.4, 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