ZIP code
14051
in East Amherst, New YorkPopulation 19,739
68.63/ 100
Ranked #849 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.7%)
Ranked #129 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 7.5%)
Ranked #2 of 86 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ZIPs (top 2.4%)
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.
Cognitive disability
8.3%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
11.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Food insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.5%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$135,663
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
8.8 ppb
in the top 4.4% 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 ›Floodplain exposure
46.5%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, East Amherst, New York (ZIP 14051) stands in the top 2.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (849th) and the top 7.5% of New York (129th).
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: modeled cognitive disability lies in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and loneliness is in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled food insecurity registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and transportation lies in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Household income is in the top 5.9% nationally, modeled utility shutoff registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally. On the other side, outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 3.4% nationally, lead in tap water registers in the top 4.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure lies in the top 4.7% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 14221, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 83.3 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $135,663 predicts 81.3 years — 2.0 years above.
Ranked #931 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 83.3 ± 1.6 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.9 years — 5.4 years above them.
Ranked #97 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
14032
New Yorkshares a border
Score 67.50
Closest healthier
14221
New Yorkshares a border
Score 68.70
Similar health profile
12008
New York99% similar profile
Score 63.18
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 | 26.9% | 24.2–29.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.4% | 27.4–33.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 35.1–41.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.6% | 23.7–31.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.2% | 5.9–8.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.4% | 2.8–4.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.2–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.4% | 81.9–86.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.1% | 91.0–93.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.1% | 69.8–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.4% | 71.0–75.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.4% | 78.0–86.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 15.0–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.4% | 15.7–21.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 29.6–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.4% | 16.8–22.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.0% | 23.4–30.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 65.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.7% | 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 | 81.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 50.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 21.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $135,663 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $421,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,864 | $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 | 83.3 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 83.3, 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