ZIP code
19977
in Smyrna, DelawarePopulation 27,704
50.19/ 100
Ranked #15,967 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranked #40 of 64 Delaware ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #5 of 16 Dover, DE ZIPs (top 31%)
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
9.8%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
39.9%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
40.6%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Smyrna, Delaware (ZIP 19977) lands in the top 50% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,967th) and the bottom 38% of Delaware (40th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 14.5% nationally, and lead in tap water is in the bottom 18% nationally. Set against that, modeled nitrate sits in the top 3.1% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 6.3% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 10.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 13.8% nationally. Modeled obesity rests in the top 12.1% nationally, and short sleep registers in the top 14.4% nationally. PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 18% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. On the overall standing, ZIP 19734, 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 Dover, DE metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.5 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $76,826 predicts 79.0 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,868 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
19734
Delawareshares a border
Score 59.18
Closest healthier
19938
Delawareshares a border
Score 50.71
Similar health profile
62639
Illinois98% similar profile
Score 50.27
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 | 28.2% | 25.5–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 35.7–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.7–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 35.4–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 36.3–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.4–16.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.9–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.5–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.7% | 78.8–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.6–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 62.3–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.7% | 58.2–65.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.1% | 69.0–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 26.0–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 35.7–45.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.9–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.4–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.5–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 29.4–36.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.7–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 21.2–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–15.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.6% | 31.1–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | DE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.2% (2.4–16.7%) n=62 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (3.2–18.9%) n=63 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.1% (3.2–15.9%) n=63 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.1% (13.0–59.9%) n=63 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 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 | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.8% (85.5–97.0%) n=62 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (17.0–38.0%) n=62 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.6% (59.5–92.0%) n=62 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.8%) n=62 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.9% | 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+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (13.0–42.2%) n=64 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (34.9–62.0) n=64 |
| Median household income | $76,826 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $82,604 ($60,703–$125,491) n=61 |
| Median home value | $341,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $322,500 ($243,800–$534,600) n=61 |
| Median gross rent | $1,468 | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 years of 77.5, 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