ZIP code
03054
in Merrimack, New HampshirePopulation 28,176
63.58/ 100
Ranked #2,679 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.4%)
Ranked #39 of 243 New Hampshire ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #8 of 34 Manchester-Nashua, NH ZIPs (top 24%)
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 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 ›Food insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.6%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Fair or poor health
12.3%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$127,303
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST33rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.4%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.3%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.6%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Merrimack, New Hampshire (ZIP 03054) sits in the top 8.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,679th) and the top 16% of New Hampshire (39th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled food insecurity is in the bottom 4.3% nationally, modeled transportation lies in the bottom 4.4% nationally, and lead in tap water registers at the national minimum. Modeled fair or poor health is in the bottom 4.0% nationally, household income lies in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity registers in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Modeled mobility disability is in the bottom 6.9% nationally, and diabetes lies in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site is at the national minimum.
Put plainly, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 03031, just across the boundary. Across other measures, the ZIP also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 Manchester-Nashua, NH 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
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 15.3; chronic-disease standing 84.4 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,320 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
03031
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 66.70
Closest healthier
03049
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 65.60
Similar health profile
15237
Pennsylvania100% similar profile
Score 66.00
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 | 25.6% | 23.5–27.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.2% | 27.7–32.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 19.3–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.2% | 31.5–36.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.0% | 28.0–36.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.3% | 6.0–8.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.2% | 4.4–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.9–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.6–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.4–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 69.1–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.0% | 69.1–74.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.8–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 29.6–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.8% | 20.5–25.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 19.2–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.7–5.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 28.3–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (2.0–13.3%) n=243 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (2.2–14.5%) n=242 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.5% (1.3–9.8%) n=243 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 38.8% (21.4–60.3%) n=243 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.8% (0.0–6.0%) n=243 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.5% (0.0–8.4%) n=243 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.9% (85.7–99.0%) n=243 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.1% (17.2–36.4%) n=243 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 86.0% (62.6–96.9%) n=243 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–3.1%) n=243 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.1% (0.5–7.1%) n=243 |
| Single-parent households | 54.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 60.9% (46.9–76.5%) n=243 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.1% (15.1–37.1%) n=243 |
| Median age | 41.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 47.1 yr (38.4–58.4) n=243 |
| Median household income | $127,303 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $98,684 ($67,733–$147,723) n=235 |
| Median home value | $458,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $371,500 ($252,560–$570,440) n=237 |
| Median gross rent | $1,932 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,360 ($1,037–$1,893) n=197 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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