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ZIP code

95341

in Merced, CaliforniaPopulation 36,385

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

31.67/ 100

Ranked #30,391 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.3%)

Ranked #1,662 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 3.4%)

Ranked #18 of 19 Merced, CA ZIPs (bottom 5.3%)

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.

Colon-cancer screening

45.9%

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST4th
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

23.7%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

90.9%

in the top 0.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Vision disability

11.1%

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

35.5%

in the top 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Dry extreme heat

102.8 days/year

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US99th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

22.7%

in the top 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

3.6%

in the top 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST81st
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing insecurity

29.7%

in the top 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

ZIP 95341, one of several in Merced, California, overall, ranks in the bottom 5.3% nationally (30,391st) and the bottom 3.4% of California (1,662nd).

continue reading

Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: modeled colon screening settles in the bottom 0.9% nationally, modeled uninsured is in the top 2.7% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits in the top 0.6% nationally. Modeled vision disability lands in the top 3.1% nationally, fair or poor health lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and disaster risk stands in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests in the top 1.4% nationally, and cognitive disability registers in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled fine-particle resides in the top 1.8% nationally, and housing insecurity settles in the top 1.8% nationally.

Measured against the nearby ZIPs, floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 93610, just across the boundary, comes out 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 Merced, 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 74%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 85%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 5%

14%

Preventive Care

in the bottom 0.4%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 8%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 25%

8%

Disability

healthier than 7%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

in the bottom 0.2%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 68%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 39%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 4%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 22%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 2%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 15%

8%

Disability

healthier than 8%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

in the bottom 0.6%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 83%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 56%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 50%

14%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 17%

16%

Preventive Care

in the bottom 0.00%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 11%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 17%

8%

Disability

healthier than 28%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 6%

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 5.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 73.6 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #16,248 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 76.8 ± 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.

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 adults19.3%16.9–21.9
High blood pressure among adults31.6%27.9–35.5
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults4.1%3.7–4.5
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.9–11.3
Coronary heart disease among adults6.2%5.7–6.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.7%6.0–7.4
Depression among adults21.8%18.5–25.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.5%12.8–16.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.5%30.5–38.7
Obesity among adults36.4%29.3–43.9
Stroke among adults3.7%3.4–4.0
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years22.0%18.4–26.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years23.7%20.9–26.5
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure65.9%62.5–69.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults67.2%62.7–71.4
Cholesterol screening among adults77.0%74.6–79.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years45.9%40.7–51.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults44.0%40.4–47.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years65.7%56.8–74.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.3%12.5–18.4
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.0%14.9–19.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults39.1%34.1–44.2
Short sleep duration among adults41.0%34.5–48.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults35.5%32.1–39.0
Frequent mental distress among adults20.8%18.6–23.1
Frequent physical distress among adults18.1%16.1–20.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults22.7%20.4–25.0
Any disability among adults40.2%35.8–44.7
Hearing disability among adults6.7%6.0–7.4
Independent living disability among adults13.1%11.8–14.4
Mobility disability among adults19.1%17.1–21.3
Self-care disability among adults6.8%6.3–7.4
Vision disability among adults11.1%10.2–12.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults33.5%29.2–37.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults39.0%35.1–42.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults36.5%33.1–39.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults29.7%26.4–33.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults18.9%16.9–21.0
Loneliness among adults41.9%36.3–47.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults16.3%14.3–18.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate27.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714
Uninsured 18–6417.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704
No HS diploma (25+)39.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729
Bachelor's or higher (25+)9.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50531.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729
Unemployment rate (16+)12.7%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2746.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714
Households without a vehicle9.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708
Broadband subscription90.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32293.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)42.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32238.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708
Homeownership rate38.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32264.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708
Crowded housing (>1 per room)11.6%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 households30.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692
Population 65+8.2%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730
Median age26.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712
Median household income$57,342$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584
Median home value$334,400$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593
Median gross rent$1,242$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 birth76.8 yr ± 0.7078.9 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 0.70 years of 76.8, 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