ZIP code
95006
in Boulder Creek, CaliforniaPopulation 7,561
61.46/ 100
Ranked #3,841 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.0%)
Ranked #439 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #8 of 17 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ZIPs (top 47%)
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
189.9 per million
in the top 0.04% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
51.5%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
5.9 days/year
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
25.5%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
5.7%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.63 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Transit access
3.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
13.5 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
10.0%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
Boulder Creek, California (ZIP 95006), in overall standing, comes out in the top 12.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,841st) and the top 26% of California (439th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 3.7% nationally, obesity stands in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and tooth loss resides in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Civic sits in the top 8.9% nationally, transit stands in the top 9.0% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 9.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 0.04% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled disaster risk resides in the top 5.3% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 9.5% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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 hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 95005, 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 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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 15.6; chronic-disease standing 85.0 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,342 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 189.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.5 ± 1.7 years.
Ranked #4 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
94020
Californiashares a border
Score 60.33
Closest healthier
95005
Californiashares a border
Score 62.13
Similar health profile
48017
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 63.14
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 | 24.0% | 21.0–27.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.6% | 27.9–35.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.3–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.7% | 32.5–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.5% | 19.9–31.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.7% | 4.5–7.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.8% | 4.0–5.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.8% | 69.1–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.3% | 69.4–76.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.8–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.0% | 65.3–74.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.0% | 69.0–75.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 74.5–86.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.4% | 15.3–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.1% | 8.4–12.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.5% | 13.5–19.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.7–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 13.8–18.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.4% | 21.7–29.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.2–10.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.9–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 27.6–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 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) | 51.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 55.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 23.4% | 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 | $102,167 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $843,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,129 | $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 ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 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