ZIP code
14861
in Lowman, New YorkPopulation 1,260
52.50/ 100
Ranked #12,749 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #1,264 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #10 of 15 Elmira, NY ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
70.1%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
14.5 mi
in the top 12.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
78.7%
in the bottom 14.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS77thDefinition & 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
Lowman, New York (ZIP 14861), by its composite score, sits in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,749th) and the bottom 27% of New York (1,264th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: modeled tree cover lies in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk resides in the bottom 14.6% nationally, and obesity is in the bottom 19% nationally. On the other hand, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 5.3% nationally, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 12.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 14.6% nationally. Recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 18% nationally. Physicians lies at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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 14816, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
14816
New Yorkshares a border
Score 61.67
Closest healthier
14838
New Yorkshares a border
Score 54.47
Similar health profile
17920
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 52.62
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 | 31.5% | 28.0–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 34.6–43.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 36.2–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.7% | 24.6–37.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.2% | 10.8–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.4–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 77.5–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.7–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.4–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.6% | 64.7–74.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 58.4–65.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 69.5–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.9–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 12.8–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.1% | 22.4–32.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.5% | 28.6–40.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.0–22.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.6–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.7% | 25.4–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.0–18.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 19.7–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 10.5–16.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.1–15.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.9–13.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 26.9–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 68.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 28.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 50.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $64,904 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $149,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $1,137 | $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 | 77.0 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 77.0, 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