ZIP code
12120
in Medusa, New YorkPopulation 600
62.67/ 100
Ranked #3,152 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.9%)
Ranked #415 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #27 of 114 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ZIPs (top 24%)
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.
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 ›Mammography
82.7%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
15.9 mi
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.68%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
19.8 mi
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.7%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.4%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.6%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
20.2 mi
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Medusa, New York (ZIP 12120) places in the top 9.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,152nd) and the top 24% of New York (415th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: modeled transportation noise registers at the national minimum, and mammography settles in the top 2.8% nationally. Poverty sits in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled food insecurity lies in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff rests in the bottom 6.6% nationally, transportation resides in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and fair or poor health is in the bottom 4.8% nationally. On the other side, distance to a nursing home lands in the top 4.9% nationally, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 5.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center registers in the top 8.1% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 12147, 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 78%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
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
12083
New Yorkshares a border
Score 57.58
Closest healthier
12147
New Yorkshares a border
Score 62.75
Similar health profile
52220
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 58.57
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 | 26.9% | 24.1–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 29.5–36.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 18.0–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.7–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.6% | 24.4–32.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.3% | 5.9–8.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.3% | 3.4–5.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 76.6–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.8–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.6% | 88.9–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.6% | 68.0–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.5% | 68.8–74.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.7% | 77.7–87.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.8–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 7.6–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.7% | 15.3–22.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 29.6–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.6% | 10.5–14.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–12.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.2% | 20.6–27.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.2–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.3–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 5.9–9.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 4.6–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.8–9.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.0–5.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 28.7–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.5–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 49.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 27.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 39.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $78,917 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $309,500 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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