This ranking identifies U.S. ZIP codes where children face the highest environmental health risks from water contamination, air toxics, and lead paint exposure. Children are especially vulnerable to environmental toxins during development.
34,757 ZIP codes analyzed · Worst score: 100/100
25 Worst ZIP Codes
| # | ZIP Code | City | State | Risk Score | Tier | Water Lead Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10031 | New York | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 2 | 10032 | New York | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 3 | 10033 | New York | PA | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 4 | 10034 | New York | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 5 | 10040 | New York | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 6 | 10503 | Ardsley On Hudson | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 7 | 10519 | Croton Falls | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 8 | 10578 | Purdys | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 9 | 11104 | Sunnyside | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 10 | 11204 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 11 | 11209 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 12 | 11210 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 13 | 11215 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 14 | 11226 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 15 | 11228 | Brooklyn | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 16 | 11372 | Jackson Heights | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 17 | 11411 | Cambria Heights | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 18 | 11412 | Saint Albans | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 19 | 11418 | Richmond Hill | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 20 | 11419 | South Richmond Hill | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 21 | 11421 | Woodhaven | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 22 | 11426 | Bellerose | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 23 | 11427 | Queens Village | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 24 | 11428 | Queens Village | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
| 25 | 11429 | Queens Village | NY | 100/100 | very-high | — |
25 Best ZIP Codes
| # | ZIP Code | City | State | Risk Score | Tier | Water Lead Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 08011 | Birmingham | NJ | 0/100 | low | — |
| 2 | 06353 | Montville | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 3 | 06336 | Gilman | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 4 | 06243 | East Killingly | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 5 | 06079 | Taconic | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 6 | 06059 | North Canton | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 7 | 06022 | Collinsville | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 8 | 06020 | Canton Center | CT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 9 | 05768 | Rupert | VT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 10 | 05731 | Benson | VT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 11 | 05666 | North Montpelier | VT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 12 | 05073 | Taftsville | VT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 13 | 05030 | Ascutney | VT | 0/100 | low | — |
| 14 | 04944 | Hinckley | ME | 0/100 | low | — |
| 15 | 04737 | Clayton Lake | ME | 0/100 | low | — |
| 16 | 04454 | Lambert Lake | ME | 0/100 | low | — |
| 17 | 03890 | West Ossipee | NH | 0/100 | low | — |
| 18 | 03291 | West Nottingham | NH | 0/100 | low | — |
| 19 | 02873 | Rockville | RI | 0/100 | low | — |
| 20 | 02829 | Harmony | RI | 0/100 | low | — |
| 21 | 02584 | Nantucket | MA | 0/100 | low | — |
| 22 | 01525 | Linwood | MA | 0/100 | low | — |
| 23 | 99927 | Point Baker | AK | 0/100 | low | — |
| 24 | 99903 | Meyers Chuck | AK | 0/100 | low | — |
| 25 | 99791 | Atqasuk | AK | 0/100 | low | — |
Rankings by State
| State | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|
| Texas | 2,056 |
| California | 2,028 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,875 |
| New York | 1,807 |
| Illinois | 1,434 |
| Ohio | 1,240 |
| Florida | 1,127 |
| Missouri | 1,053 |
| Michigan | 1,019 |
| Iowa | 991 |
| Virginia | 962 |
| Minnesota | 879 |
| North Carolina | 875 |
| Indiana | 823 |
| Georgia | 802 |
| Wisconsin | 795 |
| Kentucky | 777 |
| West Virginia | 736 |
| Kansas | 710 |
| Alabama | 668 |
| Oklahoma | 668 |
| Tennessee | 642 |
| Washington | 624 |
| New Jersey | 623 |
| Arkansas | 614 |
Methodology
School environmental health scores combine four risk factors: water system lead levels, EPA air toxics exposure data, housing lead paint probability, and water violation history. Higher scores indicate greater risk to children. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA NATA, American Community Survey.
Last updated: 2026-08-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings are based on federal agency data including EPA, FEMA, USGS, and PHMSA. Each ZIP code receives a score based on the specific risk factors for this category. See the methodology section above for details.
How often are rankings updated?
Rankings are regenerated quarterly using the latest available data. The date shown reflects the most recent update.
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