ZIP code
11221
in Brooklyn, New YorkPopulation 91,588
57.84/ 100
Ranked #6,529 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #791 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #677 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
3,991 units
in the top 0.05% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
62.5%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
21.2%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
10 ppb
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
US97thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
190 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
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 ›High blood pressure
25%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
47.6%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.0%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 11221, one of several in Brooklyn, New York stands in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,529th) and the top 46% of New York (791st).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 0.05% nationally, and modeled hearing disability stands in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Walkability sits in the top 2.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and coronary heart disease sits in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Working the other way, households without a vehicle resides in the top 0.8% nationally, homeownership stands in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the top 2.6% nationally. Housing-cost burden resides in the top 4.1% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 11216, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 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 95%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
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
3 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 77.2 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $85,736 predicts 79.5 years — 2.3 years below.
Ranked #3,105 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 77.2 ± 0.8 years. The 41 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.5 years — 3.3 years below them.
Ranked #2,590 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 35.0; chronic-disease standing 95.1 (top 10%) — 60 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,428 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
11206
New Yorkshares a border
Score 49.97
Closest healthier
11216
New Yorkshares a border
Score 63.51
Similar health profile
10033
New York95% similar profile
Score 54.85
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 | 15.5% | 14.2–16.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 25.0% | 23.3–26.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 17.2% | 15.6–19.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.9% | 28.8–32.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.5% | 23.9–29.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.4% | 13.9–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.0% | 64.7–69.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 74.8–78.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 84.2–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.4% | 58.8–65.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.7% | 52.0–57.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 75.4–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.2% | 23.1–27.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 38.7–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 17.8–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.6–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.4–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.3% | 24.2–28.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.7–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.9–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.6% | 28.8–34.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.1% | 24.8–29.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.5% | 20.4–24.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.9% | 20.8–25.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.8% | 35.6–42.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 62.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 21.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 31.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 10.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 32.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $85,736 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $1,090,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $2,139 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.41 | 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 0.41 years of 77.2, 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