ZIP code
95003
in Aptos, CaliforniaPopulation 24,951
65.30/ 100
Ranked #1,889 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 5.9%)
Ranked #254 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 14.8%)
Ranked #2 of 17 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ZIPs (top 11.8%)
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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
45.1 per million
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$148,412
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.4%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
36.9%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
8.1 days/year
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
7.8%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Aptos, California (ZIP 95003) lands in the top 5.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,889th) and the top 14.8% of California (254th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: household income is in the top 4.1% nationally, and modeled obesity settles in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Park land resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 5.3% nationally, food insecurity stands in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and energy burden lies in the bottom 3.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 1.5% nationally, expected annual loss sits in the top 3.1% nationally, and disaster risk is in the top 5.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 95033, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 97%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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
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.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 45.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.5 ± 1.6 years.
Ranked #287 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
95010
Californiashares a border
Score 59.13
Closest healthier
95033
Californiashares a border
Score 67.19
Similar health profile
90265
California99% similar profile
Score 66.82
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 | 25.5% | 22.5–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.2% | 29.5–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 19.1–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.0–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.4% | 19.2–29.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.6–7.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.7% | 4.1–5.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 72.4–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.0–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.2–91.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.3% | 66.7–75.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.0% | 71.0–76.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.4% | 73.9–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 13.8–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.6% | 13.7–19.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.7% | 24.4–35.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 13.7–17.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.8% | 22.4–29.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.5–23.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.5% | 27.0–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 56.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.6% | 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 | 9.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 60.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 24.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 48.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $148,412 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,198,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,731 | $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 | 81.5 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 81.5, 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