ZIP code
94546
in Castro Valley, CaliforniaPopulation 44,855
63.13/ 100
Ranked #2,900 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.1%)
Ranked #357 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #113 of 174 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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
$1
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS98thDefinition & 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
23.4%
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Park land
31.8%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
7.8 days/year
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.2%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$128,385
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
7.1%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, ZIP 94546, one of several in Castro Valley, California lands in the top 9.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,900th) and the top 21% of California (357th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled obesity settles in the bottom 3.4% nationally, and park land resides in the top 4.5% nationally. Lead in tap water registers at the national minimum, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Household income lies in the top 7.4% nationally. Set against that, modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 2.0% nationally, loud transportation noise sits in the top 6.4% nationally, and disaster risk is in the top 7.8% nationally. Crowded housing settles in the top 8.2% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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 comparison, ZIP 94552, just across the boundary, 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 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
“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
94541
Californiashares a border
Score 56.38
Closest healthier
94552
Californiashares a border
Score 70.52
Similar health profile
94518
California99% similar profile
Score 60.53
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 | 21.4% | 19.2–24.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.1% | 26.2–32.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.7–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 30.8–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.4% | 19.7–27.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.1% | 5.8–8.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.3% | 68.0–74.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.0% | 69.9–76.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.6–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.9% | 56.5–65.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 64.3–70.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 69.5–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.7–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.2% | 17.5–23.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 30.3–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.3–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 24.9–31.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 23.8–30.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–15.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 33.3–41.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 28.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 46.5% | 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 | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $128,385 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,043,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,539 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 years of 80.5, 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