ZIP code
95121
in San Jose, CaliforniaPopulation 36,463
63.60/ 100
Ranked #2,668 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.4%)
Ranked #329 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #36 of 61 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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
21%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$150,605
in the top 3.8% 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 ›Loneliness
41.2%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.5%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.2%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
11.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
55.1%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST22ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, ZIP 95121, one of several in San Jose, California places in the top 8.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,668th) and the top 19% of California (329th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled obesity sits in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and household income lies in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and walkability resides in the top 5.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled loneliness is in the top 2.6% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and crowded housing stands in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 4.5% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the top 6.7% 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, 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. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 95135, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
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
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 11.3; chronic-disease standing 95.9 (top 10%) — 85 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,537 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 83.0 ± 1.6 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.
Nearby
95111
Californiashares a border
Score 55.96
Closest healthier
95135
Californiashares a border
Score 74.81
Similar health profile
91780
California99% similar profile
Score 62.70
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 | 16.6% | 14.7–18.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.2% | 26.4–32.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Depression among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 33.6–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 21.0% | 17.7–24.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.0–10.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.8–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.9% | 69.7–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.5% | 68.2–74.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.8–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.1% | 50.7–59.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 59.0–65.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 70.4–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.5% | 8.8–12.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.5% | 25.1–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 30.1–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 18.1–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.3–15.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.7% | 23.9–29.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 33.8% | 30.2–37.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.2% | 36.9–45.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 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 | 77.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 49.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 45.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $150,605 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,051,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $3,061 | $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 | 83.0 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 83.0, 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