ZIP code
94306
in Palo Alto, CaliforniaPopulation 27,183
73.06/ 100
Ranked #168 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 0.6%)
Ranked #21 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 1.3%)
Ranked #8 of 61 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ZIPs (top 13.2%)
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.
Median household income
$210,000
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
97.9%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Obesity
20.7%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
5.6%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.3 µg/L
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Energy-cost burden
0.68%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
8.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 94306, one of several in Palo Alto, California, overall, ranks in the top 0.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (168th) and the top 1.3% of California (21st).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: household income registers in the top 0.9% nationally, modeled obesity resides in the bottom 1.2% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff settles in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Lithium in drinking water is in the bottom 2.2% nationally, modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and dental providers lands in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lies in the bottom 1.6% nationally. On the other side, outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 0.2% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 1.1% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 3.3% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 94022, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 1.0%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
3 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 85.3 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $210,000 predicts 83.0 years — 2.3 years above.
Ranked #763 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 85.3 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 83.1 years — 2.3 years above them.
Ranked #1,269 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 19.3; chronic-disease standing 96.7 (top 10%) — 77 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,012 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
94022
Californiashares a border
Score 76.18
Closest healthier
94304
Californiashares a border
Score 74.95
Similar health profile
92604
California100% similar profile
Score 69.61
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 | 18.6% | 16.5–20.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.8% | 25.0–30.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–21.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.1% | 31.7–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 20.7% | 17.4–24.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.7% | 3.8–5.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.7% | 3.2–4.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.3% | 70.1–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.9% | 70.7–76.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 88.0–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 59.5–67.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 75.4% | 72.9–77.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.2–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.6% | 15.1–20.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.2% | 24.8–31.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–13.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.5% | 18.9–24.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 21.0–26.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 31.3–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 80.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 36.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $210,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,994 | $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 | 85.3 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 85.3, 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