ZIP code
95126
in San Jose, CaliforniaPopulation 38,327
62.03/ 100
Ranked #3,507 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.0%)
Ranked #407 of 1,719 California ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #41 of 61 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
1,661 units
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
5.9%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
27.8%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
24.4%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.5 µg/L
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
180 intersections/sq mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
32.9%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.8%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.1%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 95126, one of several in San Jose, California sits in the top 11.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,507th) and the top 24% of California (407th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled high blood pressure registers in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 3.4% nationally. Walkability resides in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Working the other way, modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 0.8% nationally, and loud transportation noise is in the top 1.0% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the top 1.4% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 3.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. ZIP 95008, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 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 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
“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 0.4 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 97.9 (top 10%) — 98 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #18,168 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 81.5 ± 1.4 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
95008
Californiashares a border
Score 66.17
Closest healthier
95050
Californiashares a border
Score 63.84
Similar health profile
92865
California99% similar profile
Score 58.95
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 | 15.2% | 13.4–17.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.4% | 21.9–27.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.3–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.1% | 27.1–33.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.9% | 22.0–30.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 2.0–2.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.4–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 64.9% | 61.4–68.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.2% | 64.6–71.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.4% | 82.5–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.9% | 55.7–64.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.7–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 72.2–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.3–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.3% | 18.5–24.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.3–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.6% | 21.8–27.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.4% | 24.2–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.9% | 34.9–43.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 54.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 32.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 37.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 48.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 10.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 34.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $128,983 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $1,214,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $2,563 | $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 ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 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