ZIP code
12309
in Schenectady, New YorkPopulation 33,246
68.30/ 100
Ranked #945 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.0%)
Ranked #138 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 8.0%)
Ranked #4 of 114 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ZIPs (top 3.6%)
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.
Cognitive disability
9.1%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.0%
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.0%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$125,274
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.2%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.5%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.7%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 12309, one of several in Schenectady, New York, by its composite score, sits in the top 3.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (945th) and the top 8.0% of New York (138th).
Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: modeled cognitive disability stands in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and fair or poor health registers in the bottom 3.4% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and household income sits in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled food insecurity lies in the bottom 8.3% nationally, colon screening rests in the top 5.5% nationally, and independent living disability resides in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled mammography is in the top 6.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the bottom 9.7% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 12148, 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 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 54%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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 82.5 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $125,274 predicts 81.0 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,262 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 82.5 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.0 years — 2.5 years above them.
Ranked #1,168 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
12008
New Yorkshares a border
Score 63.18
Closest healthier
12148
New Yorkshares a border
Score 70.52
Similar health profile
06831
Connecticut99% similar profile
Score 72.86
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 | 25.2% | 22.7–27.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.2% | 28.2–34.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 33.5–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.4% | 24.8–34.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.2% | 6.0–8.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 76.2–81.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.6–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.7% | 90.7–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.7% | 70.3–76.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.8% | 70.3–75.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.2% | 76.3–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 14.0–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.6% | 15.1–20.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 30.4–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.5–24.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 18.5–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 26.7–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 61.1% | 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 | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 49.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 41.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $125,274 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $330,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,499 | $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 | 82.4 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 82.4, 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