ZIP code
19956
in Laurel, DelawarePopulation 16,327
46.66/ 100
Ranked #20,560 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #53 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
11.0%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.8%
in the top 14.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
19.2%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
85.4%
in the bottom 32% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS32ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Laurel, Delaware (ZIP 19956) lands in the bottom 36% nationally (20,560th) and the bottom 17% of Delaware (53rd).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: mental-health providers registers in the top 17% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 17% nationally. Transit rests in the top 18% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 19% nationally. On the other hand, modeled nitrate stands in the top 3.0% nationally, modeled high cholesterol settles in the top 7.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Modeled pfas resides in the top 14.3% nationally, crowded housing lands in the top 14.5% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 18% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 19940, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 79.4; chronic-disease standing 28.7 — 51 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,440 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
19931
Delawareshares a border
Score 39.84
Closest healthier
19940
Delawareshares a border
Score 51.35
Similar health profile
18445
Pennsylvania95% similar profile
Score 42.26
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 | 29.8% | 27.0–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.8% | 36.3–43.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 19.8–26.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.8% | 40.0–47.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.1% | 31.2–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.2% | 16.3–22.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 10.2–13.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.2–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.9–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.2–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.1% | 58.9–67.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 49.8–57.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 71.0–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.6% | 16.3–21.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.2% | 27.1–35.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 31.8–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.1% | 20.5–25.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 30.3–37.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 19.8–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.9% | 16.7–21.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.7–19.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.9–8.9%) n=63 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–9.1%) n=62 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.4% | 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) | 4.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.8%) n=62 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.1% (1.1–16.0%) n=64 |
| Single-parent households | 50.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.4% (43.2–77.6%) n=62 |
| Population 65+ | 17.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $65,603 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $259,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,041 | $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 | 77.3 yr ± 0.69 | 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 0.69 years of 77.3, 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