ZIP code
95821
in Sacramento, CaliforniaPopulation 38,064
43.12/ 100
Ranked #24,267 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #1,384 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #112 of 122 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ZIPs (bottom 8.2%)
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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
51 per million
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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
4.2%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
85.2 days/year
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
10.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Loneliness
39.4%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
421 units
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.6%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS94thDefinition & 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-cost burden
44.1%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 95821, one of several in Sacramento, California, in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 24% nationally (24,267th) and the bottom 19% of California (1,384th).
A few readings account for most of this area's strain: modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 0.6% nationally, loud transportation noise rests in the top 1.9% nationally, and extreme heat settles in the top 4.2% nationally. Crowded housing lands in the top 4.6% nationally, modeled tree cover rests at the national minimum, and PFAS in drinking water settles at the national maximum. Modeled loneliness lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and fine-particle rests in the top 5.9% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles in the top 6.1% nationally. On the better side, subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 5.6% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 95608, 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, 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 61%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
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
4 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.7 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $64,963 predicts 78.4 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,082 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 76.7 ± 1.0 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.7 years — 2.0 years below them.
Ranked #1,580 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 4.6 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 61.1 — 57 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,054 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 51.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.7 ± 1.0 years.
Ranked #106 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
95608
Californiashares a border
Score 52.72
Closest healthier
95825
Californiashares a border
Score 44.95
Similar health profile
74145
Oklahoma95% similar profile
Score 45.62
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 | 26.6% | 24.0–29.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.0% | 30.7–37.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 22.5–29.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 31.3–38.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.1% | 28.3–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 11.0–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.9% | 68.8–74.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.2% | 66.7–73.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.1% | 81.3–84.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.3% | 55.8–64.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 55.2–61.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.4% | 63.2–76.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.7–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 21.4–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.8% | 34.6–43.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.8% | 24.1–29.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 17.9–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.0% | 16.2–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 32.5–39.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.8–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.3% | 24.8–31.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.2% | 21.7–26.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.4% | 34.9–43.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 22.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 42.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 17.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $64,963 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $496,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,423 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.49 | 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 0.49 years of 76.7, 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