ZIP code
14303
in Niagara Falls, New YorkPopulation 6,156
37.35/ 100
Ranked #28,365 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.6%)
Ranked #1,714 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 1.0%)
Ranked #83 of 86 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ZIPs (bottom 3.5%)
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.
Transit access
10 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
27.5%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
28.4%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
44.5%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Obesity
47.2%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.2 mi
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
23.6%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.1%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
16.3%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People living in poverty
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Households with no vehicle
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
ZIP 14303, one of several in Niagara Falls, New York, by its composite score, sits in the bottom 11.6% nationally (28,365th) and the bottom 1.0% of New York (1,714th).
The data opens plainly on what marks this place: modeled tooth loss lies in the top 4.8% nationally, and households without a vehicle rests in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and obesity is in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 4.3% nationally, distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 4.5% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity registers in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled independent living disability settles in the top 6.4% nationally, and utility shutoff sits in the top 5.3% nationally. More encouragingly, transit lies in the top 1.3% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 14301, just across the boundary. The area further shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 1%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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
14301
New Yorkshares a border
Score 38.62
Closest healthier
14304
New Yorkshares a border
Score 54.52
Similar health profile
17954
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 33.28
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% | 26.5–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.1% | 38.3–46.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.0% | 11.7–14.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.9–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 31.7–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 47.2% | 40.6–54.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 27.5% | 23.6–31.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.6–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 74.3–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 79.0–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.6–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.9% | 54.7–64.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.1% | 45.6–52.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 66.2–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 11.6–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–24.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 37.4% | 32.9–42.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.5% | 38.8–50.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.2% | 25.3–31.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.2% | 18.2–22.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.7% | 32.7–41.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.4% | 18.2–22.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.7% | 8.0–9.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.9% | 25.0–32.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 30.3% | 27.0–33.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 32.4% | 29.2–35.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.6% | 20.9–26.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.5% | 29.6–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 27.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 28.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 34.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $45,646 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $79,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $862 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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