ZIP code
14048
in Dunkirk, New YorkPopulation 14,739
48.80/ 100
Ranked #17,919 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #1,512 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 12.7%)
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.
Lead in tap water
9.5 ppb
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
US96thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
16%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.27 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Grocery access
0.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.9%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
17.9%
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
22.1%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Dunkirk, New York (ZIP 14048), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 44% nationally (17,919th) and the bottom 12.7% of New York (1,512th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: elder services sits in the top 5.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Grocery resides in the top 7.4% nationally, and pharmacy sits in the top 8.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Outpatient resides in the top 11.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, lead in tap water sits in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 8.0% nationally, and households without a vehicle sits in the top 10.6% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 14062, 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
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.09%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
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 76.4 ± 1.5 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.1 years — 3.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,872 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
14062
New Yorkshares a border
Score 53.41
Closest healthier
14063
New Yorkshares a border
Score 54.43
Similar health profile
15864
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 47.77
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 | 30.2% | 27.1–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.5–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 16.6–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 34.7–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 32.0–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 14.9–21.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 10.0–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 76.1–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.2% | 77.9–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.2–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 62.2–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 52.0–59.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 70.0–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.6–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.3% | 27.8–37.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.1% | 35.1–47.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.9% | 21.2–26.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 14.9–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.5% | 29.5–37.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 21.2–28.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.1% | 19.2–25.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 18.1–23.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.9% | 27.0–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.2% | 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) | 24.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 47.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 21.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 46.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $56,431 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $104,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $869 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 76.4, 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