ZIP code
12734
in Ferndale, New YorkPopulation 950
50.94/ 100
Ranked #14,940 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #1,384 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Physician access
8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
2.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Housing-cost burden
49.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
17.1 mi
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.1%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
61.9%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Ferndale, New York (ZIP 12734) ranks in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,940th) and the bottom 20% of New York (1,384th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: physicians settles in the top 0.5% nationally, and civic lies in the top 0.8% nationally. Recreation resides in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover registers in the top 12.3% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the bottom 14.6% nationally. On the other hand, housing-cost burden rests in the top 3.4% nationally, distance to an emergency room is in the top 8.3% nationally, and modeled short sleep stands in the top 8.9% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, physicians runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 12762, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
“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
12701
New Yorkshares a border
Score 48.72
Closest healthier
12762
New Yorkshares a border
Score 55.75
Similar health profile
12953
New York97% similar profile
Score 51.77
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 | 27.5% | 24.6–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.2–39.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.1–23.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.5% | 32.4–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.8% | 26.2–40.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.4% | 14.6–20.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.8–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.9–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.0–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.4–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.9% | 57.1–66.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.9% | 53.3–60.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 66.9–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.0–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.5–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.7% | 26.2–35.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.1% | 35.8–48.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.2–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 21.6–29.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.9% | 16.1–21.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.8% | 14.3–19.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.8–18.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.7–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 49.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 15.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 11.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 27.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $56,740 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $382,800 | $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