ZIP code
19973
in Seaford, DelawarePopulation 26,834
46.11/ 100
Ranked #21,227 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #55 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (bottom 14.1%)
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.
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
11.8%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS97thDefinition & 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
45%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
308 units
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 13.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
4.8%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS15thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
4.7%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
16.7%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
5.2%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Seaford, Delaware (ZIP 19973) ranks in the bottom 34% nationally (21,227th) and the bottom 14.1% of Delaware (55th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing is in the top 8.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Physicians resides in the top 12.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled nitrate stands in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol lies in the top 4.4% nationally. Unemployment lands in the top 12.3% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 13.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 19933, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $64,387 predicts 78.3 years — 2.1 years below.
Ranked #2,822 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, 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
19933
Delawareshares a border
Score 47.57
Similar health profile
53934
Wisconsin96% similar profile
Score 42.64
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 | 31.6% | 28.7–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 39.0–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 18.8–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–16.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.0% | 41.2–48.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 31.9–43.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.2% | 14.6–20.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.3% | 10.7–14.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 78.2–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 78.4–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.6–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 61.8–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 52.1–59.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 72.1–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 11.3–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.6% | 28.5–36.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.2% | 31.7–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.8–26.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.7–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.3% | 31.7–39.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 20.3–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 29.1–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.9–8.9%) n=63 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–9.1%) n=62 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (17.0–38.0%) n=62 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.3% | 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 | 7.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 7.1% (1.1–16.0%) n=64 |
| Single-parent households | 48.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.4% (43.2–77.6%) n=62 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 41.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $64,387 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $278,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,135 | $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 | 76.2 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 76.2, 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