ZIP code
95386
in Waterford, CaliforniaPopulation 10,666
44.19/ 100
Ranked #23,235 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #1,345 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #17 of 26 Modesto, CA ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
56.7%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
95.8 days/year
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.2%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
55%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST21stUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
6.6%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
18.2%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Waterford, California (ZIP 95386) ranks in the bottom 28% nationally (23,235th) and the bottom 22% of California (1,345th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled nitrate lies in the top 0.7% nationally, and extreme heat is in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled fine-particle registers in the top 2.2% nationally, and disaster risk lies in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the bottom 4.9% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 4.5% nationally, and crowded housing lies in the top 9.3% nationally. Fiber broadband is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Walkability registers in the bottom 11.3% nationally. More positively, distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs.
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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 95323, 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 Modesto, 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 77%
21%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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 9.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 76.8 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,187 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 77.4 ± 3.3 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
95323
Californiashares a border
Score 50.76
Closest healthier
95326
Californiashares a border
Score 47.54
Similar health profile
95838
California98% similar profile
Score 42.20
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 | 22.9% | 20.3–25.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 27.2–34.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.4–26.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 30.2–37.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.6–43.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.9% | 12.2–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.0% | 11.9–16.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.0% | 64.6–71.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.6% | 65.4–73.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.1% | 79.9–84.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.0% | 49.9–60.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.4% | 51.8–59.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.8% | 66.2–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.1–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.8–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 25.8–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 30.9–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.8% | 22.7–28.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.4% | 18.3–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.8% | 32.6–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.0% | 25.2–32.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.1% | 18.1–24.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.7–20.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.4% | 31.4–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 22.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 9.9% | 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 | $73,196 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $416,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,593 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 1.69 | 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 1.69 years of 77.4, 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