ZIP code
19720
in New Castle, DelawarePopulation 62,392
49.60/ 100
Ranked #16,788 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #42 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #286 of 361 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
47.3 per million
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
4.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
366 units
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.6%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
16.8%
in the top 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, New Castle, Delaware (ZIP 19720) lands in the bottom 48% nationally (16,788th) and the bottom 34% of Delaware (42nd).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 1.3% nationally, distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, and modeled disaster risk resides in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 7.2% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise is in the top 10.2% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water sits in the top 11.2% nationally. On the brighter side, transit lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled hearing disability stands in the bottom 10.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs.
Against the wider neighborhood, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. On the overall standing, ZIP 19701, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
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
4 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.3 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $75,403 predicts 79.0 years — 2.6 years below.
Ranked #3,625 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 76.3 ± 0.8 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.0 years — 2.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,079 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 57.3 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,756 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 47.3 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.3 ± 0.8 years.
Ranked #248 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
19701
Delawareshares a border
Score 58.71
Closest healthier
19702
Delawareshares a border
Score 57.96
Similar health profile
66090
Kansas90% similar profile
Score 48.70
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 | 26.0% | 23.3–28.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.7% | 34.3–41.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 17.9–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 34.3–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.3% | 31.4–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.6–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.3% | 11.8–17.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.9–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.5% | 72.7–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.8–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.7–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.0% | 59.8–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 54.6–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 72.7–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.2–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 26.0–33.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.2% | 34.2–44.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.3–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 28.6–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.8% | 22.7–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.6–22.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.4% | 30.7–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.9–8.9%) n=63 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–9.1%) n=62 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (17.0–38.0%) n=62 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.6% (59.5–92.0%) n=62 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.8%) n=62 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.1% (1.1–16.0%) n=64 |
| Single-parent households | 44.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.4% (43.2–77.6%) n=62 |
| Population 65+ | 15.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 39.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $75,403 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $265,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,363 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,370 ($1,106–$1,655) n=55 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.3 yr ± 0.39 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.6 yr (75.5–81.2) n=61 |
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 0.39 years of 76.3, 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