ZIP code
95536
in Ferndale, CaliforniaPopulation 3,050
49.90/ 100
Ranked #16,388 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #1,076 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
1 days/year
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS95thDefinition & 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
17.2 per million
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS6thDefinition & 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
2.1 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.36 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
43.4 mi
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Ferndale, California (ZIP 95536), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,388th) and the bottom 37% of California (1,076th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 0.7% nationally, civic registers in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Pharmacy resides in the top 9.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled radon settles in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 4.7% nationally, and walkability is in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 14.4% nationally.
In everyday language, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 95558, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 97.1 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 40.7 — 56 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,001 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
95540
Californiashares a border
Score 48.88
Closest healthier
95558
Californiashares a border
Score 50.94
Similar health profile
27341
North Carolina93% similar profile
Score 49.11
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 | 30.8% | 27.7–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 33.4–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.2–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 35.0–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.5% | 25.7–38.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.0% | 9.6–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.8–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.7–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.5% | 70.9–77.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.1–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 60.2–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.5–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 69.0–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.0–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.5–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.9% | 20.9–29.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 26.5–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.5–26.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.7–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.7% | 31.6–40.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.1–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.2–18.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 27.8–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 68.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 31.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 51.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $73,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $566,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,026 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 1.26 | 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 1.26 years of 80.0, 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