ZIP code
10979
in Sterling Forest, New YorkPopulation 222
56.40/ 100
Ranked #7,867 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #916 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #68 of 77 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY ZIPs (bottom 11.7%)
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.
Walkability
270 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.8%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Sterling Forest, New York (ZIP 10979) sits in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,867th) and the bottom 47% of New York (916th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: walkability is in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and housing-cost burden sits at the national minimum. Modeled transportation noise registers at the national minimum, poverty lands at the national minimum, and homeownership resides at the national maximum. Home broadband subscription lies at the national maximum, and floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 07421, just across the boundary, ranks 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY metro area.
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 88%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 1%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
07421
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 64.10
Closest healthier
10925
New Yorkshares a border
Score 57.49
Similar health profile
58755
North Dakota97% similar profile
Score 54.69
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 | 29.7% | 26.2–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.2–42.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 6.5–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.3% | 14.7–20.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.5–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 35.3–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.1% | 29.1–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.9% | 7.0–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.1–11.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.2–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 77.8–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.8% | 88.8–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.9% | 57.8–67.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 59.3–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.1% | 62.7–78.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.3–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 11.2–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 22.9–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 32.5–43.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.8% | 16.7–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 12.6–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 9.9–15.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 24.5–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 3.8–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.1–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 11.8–20.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 10.4–18.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.0–17.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.8% | 23.6–32.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.9–10.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 57.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 27.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,162 ($782–$2,359) n=1,367 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.6 yr ± 1.91 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.9 yr (78.0–84.5) n=1,692 |
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 1.91 years of 78.6, 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