ZIP code
19968
in Milton, DelawarePopulation 15,486
57.29/ 100
Ranked #6,995 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #26 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (top 41%)
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
48.4%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
32.6%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
27.9%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Milton, Delaware (ZIP 19968) lands in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,995th) and the top 41% of Delaware (26th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled loneliness is in the bottom 6.8% nationally, and mental-health providers settles in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled colon screening resides in the top 7.3% nationally, and short sleep registers in the bottom 12.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability rests in the bottom 10.2% nationally, and housing insecurity stands in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled high cholesterol lies in the top 0.7% nationally, modeled nitrate lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 12.2% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 19951, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
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
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.2 ± 1.6 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.3 years — 2.9 years above them.
Ranked #893 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
19941
Delawareshares a border
Score 47.78
Closest healthier
19951
Delawareshares a border
Score 59.05
Similar health profile
21663
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 60.19
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 | 33.9% | 30.6–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.1% | 38.3–45.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.5–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 48.4% | 44.4–52.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.7% | 27.0–38.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.7–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.4–8.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.6% | 81.1–85.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.0% | 81.2–86.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.7% | 89.4–91.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.0% | 69.4–76.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 64.1–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.8–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.2–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 10.9–14.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.1% | 21.3–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 26.3–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.3–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 25.8–33.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.9% | 15.5–20.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.9–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.9% | 24.5–31.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.9–8.9%) n=63 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–9.1%) n=62 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (17.0–38.0%) n=62 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.6% (59.5–92.0%) n=62 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.8%) n=62 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.1% (1.1–16.0%) n=64 |
| Single-parent households | 67.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.4% (43.2–77.6%) n=62 |
| Population 65+ | 32.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 53.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $87,163 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $437,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,361 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 80.2, 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