ZIP code
19966
in Millsboro, DelawarePopulation 35,884
53.59/ 100
Ranked #11,243 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #30 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
High cholesterol
48.6%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
3.8%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST53rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Millsboro, Delaware (ZIP 19966), on the composite measure, lands in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,243rd) and the top 47% of Delaware (30th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking stands in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 10.6% nationally, and grocery sits in the top 15% nationally. On the other hand, modeled high cholesterol registers in the top 0.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands at the national minimum. Modeled nitrate resides in the top 4.7% nationally, and expected annual loss lies in the top 9.2% nationally. Modeled pfas settles in the top 11.3% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 19930, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
2 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 76.9 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $78,305 predicts 79.1 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,938 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 71.6; chronic-disease standing 19.3 — 52 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,322 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
19930
Delawareshares a border
Score 67.32
Closest healthier
19939
Delawareshares a border
Score 55.10
Similar health profile
29685
South Carolina98% similar profile
Score 54.95
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 | 34.8% | 31.6–37.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.5% | 39.7–47.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.9–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.0–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 48.6% | 44.7–52.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 28.4–39.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.9–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.5% | 81.1–85.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.6% | 80.8–86.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.3–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 68.2–75.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 58.9–66.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 74.1–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.7–15.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 24.4–32.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 27.9–37.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 18.1–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 28.9–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.4% | 26.0–33.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.9–8.9%) n=63 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–9.1%) n=62 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (17.0–38.0%) n=62 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.6% (59.5–92.0%) n=62 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.8%) n=62 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.1% (1.1–16.0%) n=64 |
| Single-parent households | 64.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.4% (43.2–77.6%) n=62 |
| Population 65+ | 32.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 53.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $78,305 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $317,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,325 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 76.9, 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