ZIP code
97304
in Salem, OregonPopulation 34,879
56.49/ 100
Ranked #7,766 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #56 of 407 Oregon ZIPs (top 13.8%)
Ranked #1 of 30 Salem, OR ZIPs (top 3.4%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
87 µg/L
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.7 per million
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & 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
By the composite measure, ZIP 97304, one of several in Salem, Oregon sits in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,766th) and the top 13.8% of Oregon (56th).
Reading across the measures, this area's clearest strengths come through: modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 13.8% nationally, and transit resides in the top 14.4% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the bottom 15% nationally. By contrast, lithium in drinking water settles in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 10.4% nationally, and disaster risk rests in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 97127, about 8.9 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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 Salem, OR 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 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.8 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $98,031 predicts 80.0 years — 1.8 years above.
Ranked #1,047 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 39.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.8 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #1,484 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
97026
Oregonshares a border
Score 48.29
Closest healthier
97127
Oregonabout 8.9 mi away
Score 57.24
Similar health profile
97008
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 57.18
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 | 28.8% | 25.7–31.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.1% | 27.6–34.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.2% | 22.7–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.0–11.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.0% | 30.3–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.5% | 25.8–37.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 8.9–13.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.6–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.4% | 69.0–75.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.4% | 68.5–76.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 83.0–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.4–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.4% | 64.0–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 71.5–84.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.2–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.4% | 15.4–21.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 26.2–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.9% | 14.8–19.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.2% | 23.7–31.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.7% (4.7–26.4%) n=411 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.9% (0.9–19.7%) n=411 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (1.2–16.6%) n=412 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.7% (11.1–49.6%) n=412 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–10.0%) n=409 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–10.0%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (76.7–96.9%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (14.6–42.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.5% (52.8–90.2%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–6.7%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.0% (0.0–13.0%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 50.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.5% (43.5–77.1%) n=407 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.5% (12.7–42.1%) n=412 |
| Median age | 39.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.1 yr (36.3–62.2) n=410 |
| Median household income | $98,031 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,301 ($49,007–$109,558) n=378 |
| Median home value | $499,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $413,900 ($238,120–$653,360) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $1,485 | $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 | 81.8 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 81.8, 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