ZIP code
95966
in Oroville, CaliforniaPopulation 28,503
43.13/ 100
Ranked #24,250 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #1,382 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #11 of 18 Chico, CA ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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
51.9 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.5%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
80 µg/L
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.3 mi
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & 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
56.9 days/year
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
9.9%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 95966, one of several in Oroville, California ranks in the bottom 24% nationally (24,250th) and the bottom 20% of California (1,382nd).
The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 0.6% nationally, and fine-particle registers in the top 1.9% nationally. Lithium in drinking water sits in the top 4.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Modeled disaster risk is in the top 6.4% nationally, modeled extreme heat stands in the top 7.8% nationally, and unemployment settles in the top 9.7% nationally. Better still, distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Park land resides in the top 10.4% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 10.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 95914, 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 Chico, CA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
“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
3 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 76.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $65,586 predicts 78.4 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #3,047 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 76.2 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 2.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,161 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 51.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.2 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #91 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
95901
Californiashares a border
Score 41.08
Closest healthier
95914
Californiashares a border
Score 43.37
Similar health profile
74107
Oklahoma95% similar profile
Score 33.17
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 | 29.3% | 26.2–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.3% | 34.5–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 21.8–28.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.2–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.1% | 25.1–37.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.3–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 12.9–18.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.0% | 71.9–77.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 70.7–77.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.7–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.2% | 58.0–68.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.7% | 54.1–61.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.0% | 65.0–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.1–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.8% | 22.9–31.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 28.1–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.7% | 23.0–28.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.0% | 32.9–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 16.9–21.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 22.8–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–20.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–22.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.6% | 29.7–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 50.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 24.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 43.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $65,586 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $333,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,149 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 76.2, 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