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ZipVitals

ZIP code

95118

in San Jose, CaliforniaPopulation 32,015

64.82/ 100

Ranked #2,073 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.5%)

Ranked #274 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 16%)

Ranked #33 of 61 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ZIPs (bottom 46%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Median household income

$152,682

in the top 3.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST88th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.

Full methodology ›

PFOS in drinking water

100%

at the national maximum

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was 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 ›

Lithium in drinking water

9.5 µg/L

in the bottom 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.

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 ›

Obesity

25%

in the bottom 5.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST26th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

40 per million

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST73rd
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Tree cover

0.00%

at the national minimum

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

100%

at the national maximum

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 5.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST86th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

1.3%

in the bottom 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US2nd
Definition & 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 ›

Loud transportation noise

2.4%

in the top 5.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

The read

Overall, ZIP 95118, one of several in San Jose, California places in the top 6.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,073rd) and the top 16% of California (274th).

continue reading

The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: household income rests in the top 3.6% nationally, and lithium in drinking water resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the bottom 5.6% nationally, and walkability lands in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 2.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, PFOS in drinking water registers at the national maximum, modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits at the national minimum. PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, and modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 5.7% nationally.

Beside the areas that surround it, expected annual loss runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 95120, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 96%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 90%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 94%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Disability

healthier than 91%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 68%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 42%

13%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 9%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 87%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 85%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 63%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 87%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 80%

8%

Disability

healthier than 87%

7%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 45%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 45%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 34%

14%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 67%

13%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 53%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 42%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 48%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 42%

8%

Disability

healthier than 43%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 33%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 22%

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 9.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 95.5 (top 10%) — 86 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #17,641 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.8 ± 1.2 years.

    Ranked #504 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults18.9%16.7–21.1
High blood pressure among adults27.8%25.0–30.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.0%6.3–7.7
Current asthma among adults8.9%7.9–10.0
Coronary heart disease among adults4.6%4.1–5.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults3.9%3.5–4.4
Depression among adults20.4%17.9–23.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.8%8.6–11.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened33.9%30.6–37.2
Obesity among adults25.0%21.2–29.2
Stroke among adults2.5%2.3–2.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years6.3%5.1–7.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.4%5.5–7.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure70.5%67.0–73.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults71.8%68.5–75.1
Cholesterol screening among adults87.9%86.4–89.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.0%57.9–66.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults70.7%68.0–73.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.3%73.4–84.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.4%12.2–16.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults8.8%7.6–10.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults20.7%17.9–23.6
Short sleep duration among adults31.0%27.3–34.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.9%14.1–17.8
Frequent mental distress among adults14.7%13.1–16.4
Frequent physical distress among adults10.8%9.5–12.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults11.1%9.9–12.4
Any disability among adults24.5%21.7–27.4
Hearing disability among adults5.1%4.6–5.7
Independent living disability among adults5.8%5.2–6.5
Mobility disability among adults10.4%9.1–11.7
Self-care disability among adults2.7%2.5–2.9
Vision disability among adults3.8%3.4–4.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults25.8%22.8–28.8
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.6%9.2–12.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.5%7.3–9.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.9%8.6–11.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.2%5.5–7.0
Loneliness among adults36.8%32.9–40.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.0%4.3–5.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate6.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714
Uninsured 18–646.8%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704
No HS diploma (25+)7.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729
Bachelor's or higher (25+)53.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50531.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729
Unemployment rate (16+)6.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2746.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714
Households without a vehicle4.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708
Broadband subscription95.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32293.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)33.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32238.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708
Homeownership rate61.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32264.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3224.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708
Foreign-born population30.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,55318.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730
Single-parent households39.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692
Population 65+13.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730
Median age39.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712
Median household income$152,682$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584
Median home value$1,494,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593
Median gross rent$2,546$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,912 ($1,113–$2,923) n=1,461
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth81.8 yr ± 0.6078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.5 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 0.60 years of 81.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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