ZIP code
95959
in Nevada City, CaliforniaPopulation 17,683
56.20/ 100
Ranked #8,065 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #717 of 1,719 California 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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
4.6%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS99thDefinition & 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 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Park land
35%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
79.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST63rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.1%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
30.1%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Nevada City, California (ZIP 95959) lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,065th) and the top 42% of California (717th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the bottom 2.5% nationally, park land stands in the top 3.9% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests in the top 5.1% nationally. Civic registers in the top 7.7% nationally, modeled obesity resides in the bottom 11.7% nationally, and outpatient settles in the top 10.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled fine-particle is in the top 1.3% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the top 1.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands at the national minimum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 6.5% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. On the overall standing, ZIP 95728, less than a tenth of a mile away, ranks healthier.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
“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.
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 80.8 ± 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.
Nearby
95701
Californiashares a border
Score 50.26
Closest healthier
95728
Californialess than 0.1 mi away
Score 58.12
Similar health profile
95685
California98% similar profile
Score 53.68
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 | 30.7% | 27.2–34.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.1–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 19.8–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.7–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.1% | 21.5–35.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.5–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.2–6.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 74.7–81.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 73.1–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.3–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 64.6–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.9% | 65.5–72.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 69.8–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.5% | 9.7–13.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.1% | 16.6–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 24.5–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.7–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 27.6–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 17.9–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.5–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 25.2–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 69.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 33.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 56.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $86,524 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $627,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,675 | $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 | 80.8 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 80.8, 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