ZIP code
94501
in Alameda, CaliforniaPopulation 63,808
64.26/ 100
Ranked #2,313 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.3%)
Ranked #296 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #102 of 174 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$2
in the top 0.08% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
22.2%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
12.9%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
0.91%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
14.8%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.7%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 94501, one of several in Alameda, California lands in the top 7.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,313th) and the top 17% of California (296th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled obesity stands in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and energy burden lies in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Walkability lands in the top 4.2% nationally. Set against that, modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 0.08% nationally, modeled disaster risk is in the top 0.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum. Outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 3.0% nationally, modeled transportation noise registers in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled tree cover stands at the national minimum.
Set beside the nearby areas, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 94502, less than a tenth of a mile away, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
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 80.1 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $127,906 predicts 81.1 years — 0.9 years below.
Ranked #1,456 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 31.3; chronic-disease standing 95.6 (top 10%) — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,838 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
94601
Californiashares a border
Score 46.47
Closest healthier
94502
Californialess than 0.1 mi away
Score 72.56
Similar health profile
91354
California99% similar profile
Score 65.75
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 | 20.3% | 18.0–22.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.8% | 24.9–30.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.6–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.4% | 30.2–37.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.2% | 18.6–26.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.1% | 4.9–7.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.4–6.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.8% | 67.6–74.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.4% | 70.2–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.3–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.0% | 56.8–65.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.2% | 66.4–71.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 70.1–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 14.1–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.9% | 15.4–20.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.4% | 29.5–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.2% | 22.4–28.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.5% | 22.4–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.3% | 32.3–40.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 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+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 59.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 44.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 17.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $127,906 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,250,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,437 | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 0.42 | 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 0.42 years of 80.1, 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