ZIP code
95968
in Palermo, CaliforniaPopulation 1,364
27.31/ 100
Ranked #31,201 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 2.7%)
Ranked #1,700 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 1.2%)
Ranked #18 of 18 Chico, CA ZIPs (bottom 5.6%)
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
50 per million
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
34.1%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
52.8%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
14.3%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.2%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.5%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
21.6%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.3%
in the top 2.1% 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 ›Cognitive disability
22%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
74.5%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Palermo, California (ZIP 95968), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 2.7% nationally (31,201st) and the bottom 1.2% of California (1,700th).
What the data marks out about this place comes first: modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 0.9% nationally, and fair or poor health resides in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and independent living disability lands in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled vision disability stands in the top 4.5% nationally, self-care disability registers in the top 4.1% nationally, and nitrate settles in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled fine-particle sits in the top 2.1% nationally, cognitive disability lies in the top 3.9% nationally, and pfas rests in the top 3.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 95965, 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
95965
Californiashares a border
Score 37.89
Closest healthier
95966
Californiashares a border
Score 43.13
Similar health profile
95374
California98% similar profile
Score 25.32
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 | 27.8% | 24.8–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 34.7–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.2 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 23.0–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.9–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 29.3–43.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.3% | 18.5–26.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.5% | 12.0–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.3% | 69.0–75.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.4% | 67.4–75.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.9% | 78.5–83.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.8% | 47.4–58.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.4% | 46.7–54.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.7% | 60.2–76.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.9–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.0% | 18.0–24.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.6% | 29.7–39.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 29.6–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 34.1% | 30.3–38.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.0% | 19.7–24.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 20.0% | 17.7–22.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.4–24.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.9% | 38.2–48.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.9% | 20.2–25.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.8% | 24.8–33.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 30.7% | 26.5–35.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 34.1% | 29.7–38.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.6% | 19.7–25.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 31.8–42.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 35.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 2.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 19.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 51.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 47.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $42,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,156 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 1.83 | 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 1.83 years of 75.8, 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