ZIP code
93453
in Santa Margarita, CaliforniaPopulation 2,344
60.33/ 100
Ranked #4,607 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.4%)
Ranked #491 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #11 of 21 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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.
PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Fatal road crashes
55.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
46.6%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Slow internet speeds
2.2%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
17.3%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.86%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
26.9%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST38thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Santa Margarita, California (ZIP 93453) ranks in the top 14.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,607th) and the top 29% of California (491st).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled obesity registers in the bottom 8.9% nationally. On the other hand, PFOA in drinking water sits at the national maximum, and PFOS in drinking water rests at the national maximum. Fatal road crashes is in the top 2.9% nationally, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 3.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles in the top 4.6% nationally. PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, slow internet speeds resides in the top 5.3% nationally, and households without a vehicle lands in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled nitrate registers in the top 6.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. 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 ZIP overall, look to ZIP 93401, 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 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 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
93254
Californiashares a border
Score 53.31
Closest healthier
93401
Californiashares a border
Score 62.49
Similar health profile
05494
Vermont98% similar profile
Score 66.67
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 | 25.5% | 22.7–28.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 29.1–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 19.9–26.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 31.6–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.9% | 21.6–32.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.3–9.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.0–7.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.3% | 68.8–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.1% | 69.4–76.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 87.0–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.2% | 64.4–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.0% | 68.8–75.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.9–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.8% | 14.1–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–13.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.0% | 24.7–35.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 15.3–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.6% | 24.1–31.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.5–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.9–11.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 28.3–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 46.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 61.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 31.4% | 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 | $78,288 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $710,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 82.1 yr ± 1.26 | 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 1.26 years of 82.1, 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