ZIP code
11518
in East Rockaway, New YorkPopulation 10,149
61.85/ 100
Ranked #3,595 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.3%)
Ranked #468 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #561 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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.
PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Transportation noise
18.4%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
52.8%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.1%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.6%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
7.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Fatal road crashes
2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, East Rockaway, New York (ZIP 11518) ranks in the top 11.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,595th) and the top 27% of New York (468th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: fiber broadband rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and walkability stands in the top 4.6% nationally. Fatal road crashes lies in the bottom 6.8% nationally. On the other side, PFOS in drinking water lands at the national maximum, modeled transportation noise sits in the top 2.9% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the top 3.5% nationally. Modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum, PFAS in drinking water resides at the national maximum, and modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 5.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 5.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Close by, ZIP 11557, 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 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 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
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 ›
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 13.0; chronic-disease standing 82.3 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,335 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
11557
New Yorkshares a border
Score 67.30
Closest healthier
11563
New Yorkshares a border
Score 62.45
Similar health profile
11758
New York99% similar profile
Score 65.48
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 | 24.5% | 22.3–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 28.2–33.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 36.6–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.8% | 25.3–32.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.6% | 6.2–9.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.4–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.0–81.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 79.1–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.3% | 90.0–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 68.1–74.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.7% | 69.0–74.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 69.3–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.7% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.3% | 7.7–11.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.7% | 18.7–24.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.1% | 35.5–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–15.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.8% | 20.8–26.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.2–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.9–11.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.9–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 27.3–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 43.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $117,052 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $588,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $2,499 | $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 | 82.8 yr ± 1.58 | 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 1.58 years of 82.8, 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