ZIP code
12009
in Altamont, New YorkPopulation 7,934
66.29/ 100
Ranked #1,520 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.8%)
Ranked #221 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 12.8%)
Ranked #10 of 114 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ZIPs (top 8.8%)
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.
Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
75.3%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.7%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.5%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
11.9%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Independent-living disability
5.6%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Altamont, New York (ZIP 12009) comes out in the top 4.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,520th) and the top 12.8% of New York (221st).
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: modeled food insecurity lands in the bottom 4.7% nationally, colon screening is in the top 2.6% nationally, and transportation resides in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability rests in the bottom 3.3% nationally, utility shutoff lies in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity settles in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and mammography registers in the top 5.8% nationally. Lithium in drinking water stands in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and modeled independent living disability lands in the bottom 6.0% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 12084, just across the boundary.
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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 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 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
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
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.9 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $120,101 predicts 80.8 years — 2.1 years above.
Ranked #873 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 82.9 ± 1.7 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.2 years — 2.8 years above them.
Ranked #984 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
12023
New Yorkshares a border
Score 56.65
Closest healthier
12084
New Yorkshares a border
Score 69.67
Similar health profile
13319
New York100% similar profile
Score 66.27
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 | 26.3% | 23.7–29.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 29.2–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 18.0–23.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 34.6–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.1% | 24.1–32.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.9% | 5.6–8.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.7% | 3.1–4.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.3–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 78.3–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.6% | 90.5–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.3% | 71.5–78.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.9% | 70.2–75.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 75.7–86.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 16.3–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–20.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 29.7–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.7% | 20.0–25.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.0–8.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–7.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 28.2–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 52.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 52.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $120,101 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $342,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,285 | $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 | 82.9 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 82.9, 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