ZIP code
03246
in Laconia, New HampshirePopulation 17,103
54.76/ 100
Ranked #9,745 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #197 of 243 New Hampshire ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
388 units
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.53 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Recreation access
0.95 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
51.8%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
37.8%
in the top 13.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
48 intersections/sq mi
in the top 21% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS78thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Laconia, New Hampshire (ZIP 03246) stands in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,745th) and the bottom 19% of New Hampshire (197th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 6.2% nationally, and childcare resides in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Recreation sits in the top 9.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Dental providers stands in the top 11.8% nationally. On the other side, modeled disaster risk sits in the top 5.4% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the top 11.9% nationally. Modeled pfas stands in the top 12.3% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. ZIP 03249, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 66%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
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 76.4 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $73,241 predicts 78.8 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,339 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 76.4 ± 1.5 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 82.7 years — 6.3 years below them.
Ranked #3,573 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
03220
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 50.45
Closest healthier
03249
New Hampshireshares a border
Score 61.44
Similar health profile
03785
New Hampshire97% similar profile
Score 56.27
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 | 31.6% | 28.7–34.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 32.4–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 10.1–12.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.8–27.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.3–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.1% | 32.6–39.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.2% | 26.2–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 10.5–15.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.3–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.1–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 74.0–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.2–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 61.1–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.8% | 60.3–67.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.0% | 66.0–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.9–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.3–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.4% | 19.1–25.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.6% | 29.8–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 26.8–33.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 18.4–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.0% | 27.2–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (2.0–13.3%) n=243 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (2.2–14.5%) n=242 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.5% (1.3–9.8%) n=243 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 38.8% (21.4–60.3%) n=243 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.8% (0.0–6.0%) n=243 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.5% (0.0–8.4%) n=243 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.9% (85.7–99.0%) n=243 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.1% (17.2–36.4%) n=243 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 86.0% (62.6–96.9%) n=243 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–3.1%) n=243 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.1% (0.5–7.1%) n=243 |
| Single-parent households | 61.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 60.9% (46.9–76.5%) n=243 |
| Population 65+ | 22.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.1% (15.1–37.1%) n=243 |
| Median age | 45.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 47.1 yr (38.4–58.4) n=243 |
| Median household income | $73,241 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $98,684 ($67,733–$147,723) n=235 |
| Median home value | $339,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $371,500 ($252,560–$570,440) n=237 |
| Median gross rent | $1,224 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 76.4, 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