ZIP code
13203
in Syracuse, New YorkPopulation 16,180
43.33/ 100
Ranked #24,076 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #1,676 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 3.2%)
Ranked #82 of 87 Syracuse, NY ZIPs (bottom 5.8%)
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.
Transit access
10 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
12 ppb
in the top 1.5% 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 ›Households without a vehicle
28.7%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
200 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
36.2%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
21.5%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
14.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
14.8%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 13203, one of several in Syracuse, New York lands in the bottom 25% nationally (24,076th) and the bottom 3.2% of New York (1,676th).
Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: lead in tap water rests in the top 1.5% nationally, and households without a vehicle is in the top 2.6% nationally. Homeownership stands in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the top 7.1% nationally, and transportation resides in the top 7.3% nationally. On the encouraging side, transit lands in the top 1.3% nationally, walkability registers in the top 2.6% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 13206, 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 Syracuse, NY metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.5 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.8 years — 3.4 years below them.
Ranked #2,644 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
13202
New Yorkshares a border
Score 39.54
Closest healthier
13206
New Yorkshares a border
Score 52.18
Similar health profile
15767
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 45.19
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% | 25.0–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 37.0–43.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 11.0–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.5–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.3–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.8% | 38.1–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.3% | 19.0–25.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.6–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.8–83.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.6–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.8% | 59.5–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.0% | 50.8–57.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 70.7–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–36.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.6% | 37.1–46.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.0% | 22.5–27.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.5–21.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.3–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.3% | 31.8–38.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.1% | 24.6–31.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.6% | 24.6–30.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 28.7% | 26.0–31.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–24.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.0% | 31.7–40.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 27.4% | 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+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 28.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 40.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 36.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 41.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 18.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 39.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $46,997 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $156,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $984 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 77.4, 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