ZIP code
94947
in Novato, CaliforniaPopulation 24,100
62.68/ 100
Ranked #3,139 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.8%)
Ranked #376 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #119 of 174 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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.
Obesity
22.5%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$128,766
in the top 7.3% 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 ›Park land
17.1%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
41.7%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
3.1e-7 ppb
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
US9thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
30.7%
in the bottom 30% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS30thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 94947, one of several in Novato, California places in the top 9.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,139th) and the top 22% of California (376th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled obesity sits in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and household income lies in the top 7.3% nationally. Park land rests in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden resides in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Lead in tap water is in the bottom 9.1% nationally, fatal road crashes lands in the bottom 12.0% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 12.1% nationally. Pulling the other way, housing-cost burden registers in the top 8.3% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 11.9% nationally, and modeled disaster risk sits in the top 12.9% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 94903, 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 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
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 ›
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.6 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $128,766 predicts 81.1 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,209 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
94903
Californiashares a border
Score 64.40
Closest healthier
94945
Californiashares a border
Score 63.44
Similar health profile
93427
California99% similar profile
Score 62.39
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 | 25.4% | 22.4–28.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 28.5–36.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 18.2–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.2–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.6–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.5% | 17.3–28.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.4% | 6.7–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.2% | 71.7–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.4% | 69.5–77.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.8% | 87.4–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 61.3–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.5% | 65.0–71.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.6–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.7–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.5% | 17.1–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 25.8–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.5–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.6–33.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 20.0–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.1–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.4–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 47.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 21.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 24.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 47.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $128,766 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,017,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,607 | $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 | 82.6 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 82.6, 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