ZIP code
11237
in Brooklyn, New YorkPopulation 45,334
56.97/ 100
Ranked #7,308 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #865 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranked #697 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Households without a vehicle
66%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
20.7%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
12.2%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Walkability
240 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
52.2%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
21.2%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
10 ppb
in the top 2.9% 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 ›Hearing disability
4.0%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.6%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.7%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & 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
ZIP 11237, one of several in Brooklyn, New York, overall, ranks in the top 23% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,308th) and the top 50% of New York (865th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled high blood pressure registers in the bottom 1.4% nationally, walkability resides in the top 1.5% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 2.1% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and coronary heart disease sits in the bottom 2.5% nationally. On the other side, households without a vehicle lands in the top 0.7% nationally, and homeownership lies in the bottom 1.5% nationally. Housing-cost burden stands in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking rests in the top 2.9% nationally. Lead in tap water registers in the top 2.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, subsidized affordable housing 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. ZIP 11211, 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. 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 98%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 45.2; chronic-disease standing 97.7 (top 10%) — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,633 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
11211
New Yorkshares a border
Score 57.73
Similar health profile
60110
Illinois97% similar profile
Score 53.65
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 | 13.0% | 11.9–14.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 20.7% | 19.1–22.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.6% | 15.9–19.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.7% | 28.7–32.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.6% | 22.2–27.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.1–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.3–17.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 61.4% | 58.7–63.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.6% | 71.2–75.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.7–84.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.8% | 52.2–59.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.5% | 51.8–57.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 71.7–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.2% | 19.1–23.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.4% | 24.1–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.0% | 35.9–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 18.5–22.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.4–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 11.1–13.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 14.1–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.5% | 24.3–28.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.4% | 27.7–33.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.7% | 25.1–30.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.0% | 18.9–23.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 20.5–25.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.3% | 35.1–41.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 66.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 52.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 12.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 45.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 9.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 33.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $85,196 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $1,084,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $2,219 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 80.0, 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