ZIP code
97523
in Cave Junction, OregonPopulation 7,172
41.36/ 100
Ranked #25,778 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #353 of 407 Oregon ZIPs (bottom 13.3%)
Ranked #7 of 10 Grants Pass, OR ZIPs (bottom 30%)
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.
Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
28.9 mi
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.5%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.61 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
16.3 mi
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
13.4%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
43.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Cave Junction, Oregon (ZIP 97523) ranks in the bottom 20% nationally (25,778th) and the bottom 13.3% of Oregon (353rd).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 2.2% nationally, and pharmacy rests in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and mental-health providers stands in the top 6.5% nationally. Against that, modeled fine-particle settles in the top 3.2% nationally, distance to a nursing home lies in the top 4.7% nationally, and unemployment resides in the top 5.0% nationally. Fatal road crashes lands in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease registers in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled disaster risk sits in the top 8.3% nationally.
In plainer terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 95543, 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 Grants Pass, OR metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
“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 73.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $47,589 predicts 77.1 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,522 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 73.8 ± 1.5 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.5 years — 4.7 years below them.
Ranked #3,286 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
95543
Californiashares a border
Score 50.16
Closest healthier
97415
Oregonshares a border
Score 51.10
Similar health profile
97434
Oregon97% similar profile
Score 39.57
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 | 38.2% | 34.4–41.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.5% | 37.2–45.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 23.4–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 36.1–44.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.2% | 28.9–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.7% | 13.5–20.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.4–11.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 74.5–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.7% | 72.0–79.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.4% | 82.5–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.2–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.8% | 54.0–61.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.8% | 67.2–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.9% | 10.6–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 14.8–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 23.1–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.8–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.5% | 23.3–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.7% | 35.1–44.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.0% | 18.4–23.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.7% (4.7–26.4%) n=411 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.9% (0.9–19.7%) n=411 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (1.2–16.6%) n=412 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.7% (11.1–49.6%) n=412 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–10.0%) n=409 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–10.0%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (76.7–96.9%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (14.6–42.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.5% (52.8–90.2%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–6.7%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.0% (0.0–13.0%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 55.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.5% (43.5–77.1%) n=407 |
| Population 65+ | 26.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.5% (12.7–42.1%) n=412 |
| Median age | 42.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.1 yr (36.3–62.2) n=410 |
| Median household income | $47,589 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,301 ($49,007–$109,558) n=378 |
| Median home value | $329,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $413,900 ($238,120–$653,360) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $1,372 | $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 | 73.8 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 73.8, 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