ZIP code
12144
in Rensselaer, New YorkPopulation 22,111
59.30/ 100
Ranked #5,368 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #666 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #50 of 114 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
69.3%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.55%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.5%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS79thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Rensselaer, New York (ZIP 12144) sits in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,368th) and the top 38% of New York (666th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A few measures carry most of this area's good news: transit rests in the top 5.7% nationally, and elder services settles in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 11.0% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled fair or poor health lands in the bottom 13.2% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas rests in the top 4.7% nationally, and lead in tap water settles in the top 12.3% nationally. Homeownership lands in the bottom 15% nationally, and households without a vehicle rests in the top 15% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 12033, 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 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 39%
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
12033
New Yorkshares a border
Score 61.93
Closest healthier
12061
New Yorkshares a border
Score 66.00
Similar health profile
12306
New York98% similar profile
Score 58.24
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 | 25.5% | 22.6–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.0% | 27.4–34.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.9–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.7% | 31.8–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.6% | 24.9–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.4–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.2–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.2–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.1% | 87.7–90.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.1% | 64.6–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.7% | 63.6–69.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.1% | 71.5–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.4–20.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 19.2–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.3% | 34.8–45.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.4% | 22.1–28.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.2–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.5–14.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.8–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 48.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 16.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $90,738 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $249,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,366 | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 80.1, 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