ZIP code
12208
in Albany, New YorkPopulation 23,289
61.51/ 100
Ranked #3,796 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.9%)
Ranked #491 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #36 of 114 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ZIPs (top 32%)
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.
Lead in tap water
13 ppb
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
6.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Fatal road crashes
1.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
4.7%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
45.1%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
15%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
299 units
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Park land
16.4%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 12208, one of several in Albany, New York ranks in the top 11.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,796th) and the top 28% of New York (491st).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: transit is in the top 3.5% nationally, and physicians settles in the top 4.6% nationally. Fatal road crashes resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 4.5% nationally, modeled mammography stands in the top 3.8% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 8.2% nationally. On the other side, lead in tap water lands in the top 1.2% nationally, homeownership sits in the bottom 6.9% nationally, and households without a vehicle is in the top 7.3% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Close by, ZIP 12054, 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 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 91%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
“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 81.3 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $70,413 predicts 78.7 years — 2.6 years above.
Ranked #590 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 20.4; chronic-disease standing 90.7 (top 10%) — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,414 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
12054
New Yorkshares a border
Score 70.90
Closest healthier
12159
New Yorkshares a border
Score 67.73
Similar health profile
56251
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 58.15
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 | 20.9% | 18.8–23.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.0% | 26.4–31.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 19.1–24.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.3% | 29.3–35.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.8% | 25.7–34.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.6% | 6.2–9.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.6% | 71.2–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.3–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.2–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.4% | 68.7–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.4% | 62.5–68.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.1% | 76.7–86.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.0–21.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.8% | 18.0–23.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 32.5–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.4% | 22.4–28.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.8–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.0% | 32.6–41.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 54.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 45.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 57.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 17.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 33.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $70,413 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $264,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,320 | $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 | 81.3 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 81.3, 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