ZIP code
95301
in Atwater, CaliforniaPopulation 43,009
39.97/ 100
Ranked #26,780 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #1,506 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 12.4%)
Ranked #8 of 19 Merced, CA ZIPs (top 42%)
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.
Dry extreme heat
103.3 days/year
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
30%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.6%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.7%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
55.5%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST23rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
43.4%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
20.9%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›The read
Atwater, California (ZIP 95301) ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (26,780th) and the bottom 12.4% of California (1,506th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: modeled extreme heat settles in the top 1.4% nationally, and nitrate rests in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 1.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum. Modeled disaster risk rests in the top 3.3% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and loud transportation noise settles in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 5.4% nationally, floodplain exposure lands in the top 5.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic settles in the top 6.0% nationally.
For context, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 93635, 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 Merced, 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 73%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 1.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 73.1 — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,547 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 79.0 ± 1.0 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
93635
Californiashares a border
Score 42.42
Closest healthier
95334
Californiashares a border
Score 39.99
Similar health profile
95953
California98% similar profile
Score 42.73
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 | 22.2% | 19.6–25.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 29.0–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 18.9–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 32.0–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.9% | 26.9–41.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.2% | 12.5–18.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.2% | 14.2–18.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.6% | 66.3–72.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.1% | 66.0–74.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.1% | 80.1–84.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.5% | 50.3–61.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 52.0–59.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.0% | 61.6–77.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.3–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.9% | 27.4–36.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 31.4–44.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.4% | 25.5–31.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.8–20.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.7% | 31.7–40.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.9% | 26.0–33.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.1% | 22.9–29.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.7% | 21.1–26.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.0% | 18.5–23.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.9% | 33.6–44.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 25.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 42.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 12.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 33.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $68,349 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $390,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,285 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 79.0, 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