ZIP code
13856
in Walton, New YorkPopulation 5,881
43.45/ 100
Ranked #23,957 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #1,672 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 3.4%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
75.1%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.1 mi
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.2%
in the top 8.6% 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 ›Poverty rate
23.9%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
16.4 days/year
in the bottom 13.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.8%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›Coronary heart disease
9.5%
in the top 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.55%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
Walton, New York (ZIP 13856), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 25% nationally (23,957th) and the bottom 3.4% of New York (1,672nd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover stands in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Pharmacy sits in the top 12.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 13.1% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a Superfund site resides in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the top 8.6% nationally. Poverty stands in the top 12.2% nationally, and unemployment resides in the top 12.4% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 13753, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
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 78.9 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $48,958 predicts 77.3 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,193 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.
Nearby
13753
New Yorkshares a border
Score 58.15
Closest healthier
13754
New Yorkshares a border
Score 51.80
Similar health profile
15861
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 43.86
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 | 33.8% | 30.4–37.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.2% | 38.1–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.0–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 35.8–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 29.6–43.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.3% | 17.0–24.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 6.0–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 77.0–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 78.4–84.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.5–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 63.9–73.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.1% | 52.5–59.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.2% | 66.8–80.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.8–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.5% | 16.0–21.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.7% | 28.0–37.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.2% | 36.2–48.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.2–26.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 30.5–38.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.1–28.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.9% | 15.7–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 17.0–23.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.5–16.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 25.8–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 49.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 24.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 50.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $48,958 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $156,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $819 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 78.9, 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