ZIP code
95969
in Paradise, CaliforniaPopulation 8,339
47.47/ 100
Ranked #19,584 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #1,213 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #6 of 18 Chico, CA ZIPs (top 33%)
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
51.4 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 ›Dental provider access
2.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Physician access
6.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
4.2%
in the top 1.4% 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 ›Grocery access
0.35 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.53 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.53 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Paradise, California (ZIP 95969) ranks in the bottom 39% nationally (19,584th) and the bottom 29% of California (1,213th).
Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 0.6% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 1.4% nationally. On the encouraging side, dental providers rests in the top 0.7% nationally, and physicians is in the top 0.7% nationally. Grocery stands in the top 2.9% nationally, recreation settles in the top 4.1% nationally, and pharmacy lies in the top 4.6% nationally. Childcare resides in the top 5.2% nationally, mental-health providers lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and outpatient registers in the top 7.1% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, physicians 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 95938, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
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
2 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 77.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $69,067 predicts 78.6 years — 1.2 years below.
Ranked #1,541 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 51.4 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #101 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
95928
Californiashares a border
Score 46.81
Closest healthier
95938
Californiashares a border
Score 50.86
Similar health profile
93601
California97% similar profile
Score 47.40
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 | 33.4% | 29.9–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.9% | 37.8–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.3–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.3% | 36.9–45.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.7% | 24.5–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.7–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.9% | 5.0–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.3–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.4–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.9–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 62.6–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 58.8–65.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 64.9–79.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 20.5–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 25.8–37.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.6% | 21.0–26.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.6–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.2–21.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.1–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.5–15.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–11.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 26.2–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | CA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 6.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 38.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 64.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730 |
| Single-parent households | 69.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692 |
| Population 65+ | 39.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730 |
| Median age | 57.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712 |
| Median household income | $69,067 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584 |
| Median home value | $455,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593 |
| Median gross rent | $1,228 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 77.4, 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