ZIP code
33898
in Lake Wales, FloridaPopulation 18,527
41.94/ 100
Ranked #25,258 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #832 of 974 Florida ZIPs (bottom 14.6%)
Ranked #26 of 38 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
198.6 days/year
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.7%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
44.1%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Coronary heart disease
10.5%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.1%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 25% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS25thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Obesity
39.6%
in the top 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 33898, one of several in Lake Wales, Florida lands in the bottom 21% nationally (25,258th) and the bottom 14.6% of Florida (832nd).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and radon settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled humid heat is in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled high cholesterol sits in the top 3.2% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 5.2% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 6.5% nationally, and disaster risk stands in the top 9.9% nationally. Modeled uninsured rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and hearing disability registers in the top 11.8% nationally. Modeled stroke resides in the top 11.3% nationally.
Put simply, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. On the overall standing, ZIP 33827, 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 79.7; chronic-disease standing 10.9 — 69 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,139 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
33825
Floridashares a border
Score 41.41
Closest healthier
33827
Floridashares a border
Score 46.20
Similar health profile
33538
Florida100% similar profile
Score 40.64
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 | 35.2% | 32.1–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 39.1–46.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.9–13.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.7% | 42.0–49.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 34.5–45.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 16.6–23.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.8% | 80.5–85.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 77.5–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 86.2–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.1% | 59.5–68.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.2% | 49.9–56.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.9% | 63.6–77.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 11.2–15.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 26.4–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.4% | 35.7–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.0% | 22.6–27.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.0% | 36.4–44.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.7% | 18.6–23.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.4% (5.3–23.2%) n=972 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 15.9% (7.1–27.2%) n=968 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.7% (2.9–20.6%) n=977 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.1% (12.7–56.0%) n=977 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.8–7.7%) n=968 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (1.2–11.0%) n=972 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.9% (83.2–96.9%) n=972 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 33.2% (20.1–47.6%) n=972 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.9% (47.3–90.5%) n=972 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.2% (0.2–6.7%) n=972 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 11.5% (2.3–39.9%) n=977 |
| Single-parent households | 62.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.8% (38.7–75.3%) n=968 |
| Population 65+ | 30.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (11.9–40.6%) n=977 |
| Median age | 48.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.0 yr (35.1–59.8) n=972 |
| Median household income | $57,224 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,857 ($48,246–$112,420) n=946 |
| Median home value | $168,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $334,600 ($168,120–$631,410) n=932 |
| Median gross rent | $1,194 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,604 ($968–$2,218) n=901 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.2 yr ± 0.62 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.2 yr (74.6–82.2) n=894 |
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 0.62 years of 78.2, 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