ZIP code
97231
in Portland, OregonPopulation 4,308
59.17/ 100
Ranked #5,472 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #25 of 407 Oregon ZIPs (top 6.2%)
Ranked #23 of 120 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ZIPs (top 19%)
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.
Short sleep
25.8%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
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 ›Transit access
8.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$137,527
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.5%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
2.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
38.2%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Obesity
27.2%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.5%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 97231, one of several in Portland, Oregon ranks in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,472nd) and the top 6.2% of Oregon (25th).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 0.6% nationally, and transit resides in the top 1.9% nationally. Household income lands in the top 5.6% nationally, and modeled obesity registers in the bottom 9.6% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Against that, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise stands in the top 5.3% nationally. Slow internet speeds settles in the top 5.5% nationally, and floodplain exposure lies in the top 6.8% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 97124, 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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 ›
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 5.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 73.5 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,174 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
97051
Oregonshares a border
Score 50.18
Closest healthier
97124
Oregonshares a border
Score 61.31
Similar health profile
74114
Oklahoma97% similar profile
Score 57.50
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 | 27.2% | 24.9–29.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.2% | 29.5–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 28.0% | 25.4–30.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 34.9–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.2% | 23.9–30.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.6% | 7.0–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.8% | 4.0–5.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 70.8–76.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.9% | 72.2–77.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.8–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 68.5–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.5% | 67.9–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 75.5–84.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.6% | 8.0–11.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–17.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 25.8% | 22.8–29.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–17.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.5–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.0% | 23.2–29.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.0–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.7% (4.7–26.4%) n=411 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.9% (0.9–19.7%) n=411 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (1.2–16.6%) n=412 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.7% (11.1–49.6%) n=412 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–10.0%) n=409 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–10.0%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (76.7–96.9%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (14.6–42.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.5% (52.8–90.2%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–6.7%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.0% (0.0–13.0%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 65.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.5% (43.5–77.1%) n=407 |
| Population 65+ | 25.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.5% (12.7–42.1%) n=412 |
| Median age | 51.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.1 yr (36.3–62.2) n=410 |
| Median household income | $137,527 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,301 ($49,007–$109,558) n=378 |
| Median home value | $858,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $413,900 ($238,120–$653,360) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $1,898 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,252 ($807–$1,772) n=327 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.7 yr ± 1.33 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.1 yr (76.4–82.0) n=409 |
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 1.33 years of 82.7, 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