ZIP code
93516
in Boron, CaliforniaPopulation 2,889
35.02/ 100
Ranked #29,385 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.4%)
Ranked #1,609 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 6.4%)
Ranked #33 of 48 Bakersfield-Delano, CA ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
62.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
26.5 mi
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
19.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
91.8 days/year
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
26.6 mi
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.2%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
54.9%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST21stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.0%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
35.8%
in the top 4.2% 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 ›Independent-living disability
13.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Boron, California (ZIP 93516) lands in the bottom 8.4% nationally (29,385th) and the bottom 6.4% of California (1,609th).
Reading across the data, the real pressures come first: fatal road crashes sits in the top 2.0% nationally, distance to a nursing home lands in the top 2.0% nationally, and unemployment lies in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands in the top 2.4% nationally, distance to an emergency room rests in the top 2.6% nationally, and modeled self-care disability registers in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled colon screening resides in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and crowded housing settles in the top 3.9% nationally. Poverty is in the top 4.2% nationally, and modeled independent living disability sits in the top 5.8% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. On the overall standing, ZIP 93523, 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 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 97.4 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 19.5 — 78 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #599 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
93523
Californiashares a border
Score 43.58
Closest healthier
93524
Californiaabout 0.2 mi away
Score 56.49
Similar health profile
31796
Georgia98% similar profile
Score 40.53
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 | 29.4% | 26.5–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.2% | 36.5–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 22.5–29.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 34.0–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 32.7–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.4% | 20.5–28.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 9.3–14.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 70.9–76.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.3% | 70.7–77.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.2% | 80.9–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 54.9% | 49.8–59.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.6% | 46.0–53.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.4% | 62.6–77.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.6–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 15.9–22.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.2% | 28.6–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.7% | 34.6–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 31.2% | 27.5–35.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.2% | 18.8–23.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.1% | 16.9–21.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.3% | 17.8–23.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.0% | 37.5–46.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.2–26.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.6% | 23.9–31.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.3% | 22.1–30.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 30.3% | 25.8–35.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.4% | 16.6–22.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.1% | 30.6–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 35.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 19.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 43.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 32.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $126,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,219 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 2.29 | 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 2.29 years of 76.5, 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