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ZIP code

13603

in Watertown, New YorkPopulation 14,136

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

56.33/ 100

Ranked #7,936 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)

Ranked #919 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 47%)

Ranked #10 of 36 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY ZIPs (top 28%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

High cholesterol

17.6%

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

25.9%

in the top 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

46.4%

in the bottom 1.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

15.7%

in the bottom 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Coronary heart disease

1.4%

in the bottom 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

100%

at the national maximum

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

3.6%

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

1.0%

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Hearing disability

2.3%

in the bottom 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

4.5%

in the bottom 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 13603, one of several in Watertown, New York ranks in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,936th) and the bottom 47% of New York (919th).

continue reading

The measures split the difference for this area: modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the bottom 0.8% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and diabetes resides in the bottom 0.9% nationally. Modeled stroke lands in the bottom 0.9% nationally, hearing disability registers in the bottom 0.4% nationally, and mobility disability sits in the bottom 0.8% nationally. Against that, modeled binge drinking rests in the top 0.4% nationally, modeled colon screening is in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and slow internet speeds stands at the national maximum.

Compared with the ZIPs it borders, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 13602, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 99%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 96%

14%

Disability

healthier than 96%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 59%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 19%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 4%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 6%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 23%

8%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 98%

21%

Environmental Hazard

in the top 0.9%

14%

Disability

healthier than 89%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 17%

16%

Preventive Care

in the bottom 0.3%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 4%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 2%

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

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.

  • Above what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 84.1 ± 3.6 years. A median household income of $62,500 predicts 78.2 years — 5.9 years above.

    Ranked #19 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults9.2%8.0–10.5
High blood pressure among adults15.7%13.6–18.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults1.8%1.6–2.0
Current asthma among adults11.2%10.0–12.6
Coronary heart disease among adults1.4%1.3–1.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults2.6%2.3–3.0
Depression among adults22.0%19.2–25.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults3.6%3.1–4.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened17.6%15.3–20.1
Obesity among adults36.0%31.2–41.2
Stroke among adults1.0%0.9–1.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years17.3%14.4–20.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.3%6.9–9.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure41.7%37.5–46.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults72.6%68.9–76.3
Cholesterol screening among adults78.7%76.0–81.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years46.4%41.9–51.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults55.5%52.1–58.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.2%67.8–80.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults25.9%22.3–29.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults11.7%9.9–13.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults20.7%17.6–24.1
Short sleep duration among adults46.2%41.5–51.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults12.8%11.1–14.7
Frequent mental distress among adults21.0%18.8–23.3
Frequent physical distress among adults8.8%7.7–10.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults15.7%13.9–17.7
Any disability among adults23.0%19.9–26.3
Hearing disability among adults2.3%2.1–2.7
Independent living disability among adults7.2%6.3–8.1
Mobility disability among adults4.5%3.9–5.2
Self-care disability among adults1.8%1.7–2.0
Vision disability among adults3.5%3.2–3.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults27.0%23.3–30.8
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults17.8%15.1–20.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults15.7%13.3–18.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults17.5%15.0–20.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults10.9%9.5–12.4
Loneliness among adults37.9%33.2–42.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults10.0%8.7–11.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NY median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734
Uninsured 18–644.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734
No HS diploma (25+)2.7%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5057.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743
Bachelor's or higher (25+)36.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50531.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743
Unemployment rate (16+)9.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730
Households without a vehicle5.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3225.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730
Broadband subscription92.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32291.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)51.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32227.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730
Homeownership rate4.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730
Foreign-born population8.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5534.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746
Single-parent households37.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08754.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716
Population 65+0.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746
Median age24.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733
Median household income$62,500$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626
Median home value—$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629
Median gross rent$1,627$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,162 ($782–$2,359) n=1,367
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NY median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth84.1 yr ± 1.8578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.9 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 1.85 years of 84.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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