ZIP code
94530
in El Cerrito, CaliforniaPopulation 26,401
67.76/ 100
Ranked #1,076 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.4%)
Ranked #159 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 9.3%)
Ranked #65 of 174 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ZIPs (top 37%)
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
$0
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
24.5%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.3%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
5.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›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 ›Walkability
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & 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
13.2%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
9.1 days/year
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, El Cerrito, California (ZIP 94530) sits in the top 3.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,076th) and the top 9.3% of California (159th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled obesity rests in the bottom 4.8% nationally, fatal road crashes settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and transit lands in the top 4.4% nationally. Lead in tap water rests at the national minimum, walkability settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Against that, modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 2.2% nationally, and loud transportation noise settles in the top 3.1% nationally. PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum, and modeled transportation noise rests in the top 5.4% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 94706, 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 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 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.3 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $128,529 predicts 81.1 years — 2.2 years above.
Ranked #831 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 25.4; chronic-disease standing 93.1 (top 10%) — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,174 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
94706
Californiashares a border
Score 69.59
Closest healthier
94707
Californiashares a border
Score 73.68
Similar health profile
92604
California99% 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 | 21.2% | 18.8–23.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.0% | 27.0–33.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.9–39.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.5% | 20.5–28.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.0% | 4.8–7.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.6% | 70.4–76.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.0% | 70.6–77.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.8–90.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 61.2–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.3% | 67.4–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 71.2–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.9% | 17.1–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.7% | 13.0–16.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.2% | 20.5–26.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.3–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 29.1–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 67.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 48.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 20.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 41.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $128,529 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,114,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,545 | $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 | 83.2 yr ± 0.64 | 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 0.64 years of 83.2, 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