ZIP code
03217
in Ashland, New HampshirePopulation 2,183
49.62/ 100
Ranked #16,761 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #230 of 243 New Hampshire ZIPs (bottom 5.4%)
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.
Lead in tap water
31 ppb
in the top 0.4% 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 ›Recreation access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
17.8 mi
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.4%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
38.9%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
10.0%
in the top 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
21.1%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
5.8%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$54,607
in the bottom 21% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS21stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
Ashland, New Hampshire (ZIP 03217), overall, ranks in the bottom 48% nationally (16,761st) and the bottom 5.4% of New Hampshire (230th).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: lead in tap water sits in the top 0.4% nationally, modeled energy burden lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and housing-cost burden lies in the top 11.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands in the top 14.9% nationally, and modeled pfas rests in the top 16% nationally. On the brighter side, recreation registers in the top 3.2% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover sits in the top 10.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, 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. ZIP 03226, just across the boundary, comes out 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
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
03226
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 59.11
Closest healthier
03245
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 60.86
Similar health profile
05743
Vermont92% similar profile
Score 49.63
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 | 32.6% | 29.4–35.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.2% | 32.6–39.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.7–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.2–28.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 9.8–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.9–39.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.8% | 24.6–35.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.3–17.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.6–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 74.9–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.8% | 71.1–78.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.1–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.3–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.6% | 54.0–61.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.2% | 66.3–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.7–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.3–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.0% | 20.8–29.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 29.8–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 15.8–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.7–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.0–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.2% | 12.8–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.0–16.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.1–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.3–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.5% | 27.3–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.2–8.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (2.0–13.3%) n=243 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (2.2–14.5%) n=242 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.5% (1.3–9.8%) n=243 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 38.8% (21.4–60.3%) n=243 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.8% (0.0–6.0%) n=243 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.5% (0.0–8.4%) n=243 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.9% (85.7–99.0%) n=243 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.1% (17.2–36.4%) n=243 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 86.0% (62.6–96.9%) n=243 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–3.1%) n=243 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.1% (0.5–7.1%) n=243 |
| Single-parent households | 65.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 60.9% (46.9–76.5%) n=243 |
| Population 65+ | 25.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.1% (15.1–37.1%) n=243 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 47.1 yr (38.4–58.4) n=243 |
| Median household income | $54,607 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $98,684 ($67,733–$147,723) n=235 |
| Median home value | $227,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $371,500 ($252,560–$570,440) n=237 |
| Median gross rent | $1,096 | $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 | 86.8 yr ± 2.30 | 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 2.30 years of 86.8, 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