ZIP code
03215
in Waterville Valley, New HampshirePopulation 290
57.37/ 100
Ranked #6,915 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #157 of 243 New Hampshire ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Tree cover
97.9%
in the top 0.01% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Park land
99.3%
in the top 0.02% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
19 ppb
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
0.76 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
25.4%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
15 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
27.8%
in the bottom 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
10.9 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.17%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire (ZIP 03215), on the composite measure, lands in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,915th) and the bottom 35% of New Hampshire (157th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled tree cover registers in the top 0.01% nationally, park land lands in the top 0.02% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 1.5% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled obesity stands in the bottom 11.0% nationally. Working the other way, lead in tap water is in the top 0.8% nationally, and walkability rests in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Modeled tooth loss sits in the top 6.8% nationally, and distance to a nursing home registers in the top 9.4% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 03251, 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.
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 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
03251
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 58.38
Closest healthier
03259
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 63.30
Similar health profile
03607
New Hampshire98% similar profile
Score 56.30
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 | 35.3% | 31.8–38.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 35.1–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 6.6–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.6–26.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.3–14.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.2–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.8% | 22.9–33.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 25.4% | 21.4–29.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 4.6–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.2% | 77.8–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.7–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 87.8–91.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 65.1–73.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.1% | 61.8–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 69.6–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.0% | 10.7–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 8.6–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 17.5–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.7% | 26.3–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 13.5–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.4–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 9.7–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 24.7–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 5.9–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 11.8–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 3.9–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.4% | 16.1–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 7.1–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 5.1–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 5.7–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.7–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 24.6–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.3–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (2.0–13.3%) n=243 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (2.2–14.5%) n=242 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.5% (1.3–9.8%) n=243 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 71.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 38.8% (21.4–60.3%) n=243 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.8% (0.0–6.0%) n=243 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.5% (0.0–8.4%) n=243 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.9% (85.7–99.0%) n=243 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.1% (17.2–36.4%) n=243 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 86.0% (62.6–96.9%) n=243 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–3.1%) n=243 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.1% (0.5–7.1%) n=243 |
| Single-parent households | 86.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 60.9% (46.9–76.5%) n=243 |
| Population 65+ | 43.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.1% (15.1–37.1%) n=243 |
| Median age | 61.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 47.1 yr (38.4–58.4) n=243 |
| Median household income | $105,625 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $98,684 ($67,733–$147,723) n=235 |
| Median home value | $562,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $371,500 ($252,560–$570,440) n=237 |
| Median gross rent | $1,150 | $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 at birth | 86.3 yr ± 2.56 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 81.2 yr (78.0–85.7) n=242 |
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 2.56 years of 86.3, 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