ZIP code
14217
in Buffalo, New YorkPopulation 22,471
61.37/ 100
Ranked #3,888 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.2%)
Ranked #502 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #23 of 86 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ZIPs (top 27%)
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.
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 ›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 ›Fatal road crashes
1.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.13 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Fiber broadband
96%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.7%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.9%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 15.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS85thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, ZIP 14217, one of several in Buffalo, New York lands in the top 12.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,888th) and the top 29% of New York (502nd).
A handful of measures stand out most sharply across the profile here: floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, and fatal road crashes resides in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Transit rests in the top 6.1% nationally, mental-health providers stands in the top 8.0% nationally, and fiber broadband lies in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography sits in the top 7.8% nationally, and walkability is in the top 10.9% nationally. On the other side, modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 14223, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
“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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
14150
New Yorkshares a border
Score 58.44
Closest healthier
14223
New Yorkshares a border
Score 63.04
Similar health profile
13077
New York99% similar profile
Score 61.73
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 | 27.2% | 24.7–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 27.8–33.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.5–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 33.2–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.3% | 27.2–35.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.2–11.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.0% | 4.2–5.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.3–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 79.9–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.4–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.1% | 67.6–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.4% | 65.7–70.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 75.9–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 16.0–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 19.1–24.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 32.1–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.3–25.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.6–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–11.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 25.8–33.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 50.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $73,800 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $207,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,026 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 78.7, 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