ZIP code
14224
in Buffalo, New YorkPopulation 41,219
61.06/ 100
Ranked #4,091 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.8%)
Ranked #533 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #26 of 86 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ZIPs (top 30%)
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
7.9 ppb
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
10.7%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST77thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
4.7%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 14224, one of several in Buffalo, New York lands in the top 12.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,091st) and the top 31% of New York (533rd).
The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: modeled mammography registers in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled cognitive disability rests in the bottom 8.4% nationally, fiber broadband is in the top 10.8% nationally, and modeled colon screening stands in the top 8.9% nationally. Grocery settles in the top 12.0% nationally, and physicians lies in the top 13.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, lead in tap water lands in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 7.5% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 14059, 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. 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 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
14043
New Yorkshares a border
Score 59.52
Closest healthier
14059
New Yorkshares a border
Score 64.90
Similar health profile
14622
New York99% similar profile
Score 58.46
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 | 29.4% | 26.8–32.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 29.5–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.2–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 35.1–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.6% | 26.6–34.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.3% | 7.6–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.7% | 4.0–5.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 77.1–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.3% | 80.8–85.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.1–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 69.1–75.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.5% | 66.8–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.8% | 77.2–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.6–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.3% | 19.5–25.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.8% | 31.2–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.8% | 21.2–26.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.1% | 25.4–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 54.0% | 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 | 43.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $80,052 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $238,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,129 | $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 ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 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