ZIP code
66510
in Melvern, KansasPopulation 684
52.96/ 100
Ranked #12,138 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #163 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #28 of 57 Topeka, KS ZIPs (top 49%)
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.
Transportation noise
20.4%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.3%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.6 mi
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.4%
in the bottom 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS11thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
9.5 mi
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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
By the composite measure, Melvern, Kansas (ZIP 66510) sits in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,138th) and the top 24% of Kansas (163rd).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 7.9% nationally, loneliness stands in the bottom 9.0% nationally, and arsenic is in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled transportation rests in the bottom 13.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled transportation noise sits in the top 2.4% nationally, and loud transportation noise registers in the top 6.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 8.9% nationally. Fiber broadband resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lies in the top 11.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home settles in the top 12.2% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. ZIP 66856, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Topeka, KS metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
66095
Kansasshares a border
Score 50.34
Closest healthier
66856
Kansasshares a border
Score 53.40
Similar health profile
67491
Kansas97% similar profile
Score 51.73
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 | 29.7% | 26.3–32.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.1% | 32.9–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.5–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 34.5–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 32.3–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.5–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 5.8–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.2–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 74.6–81.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.3–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 63.2–72.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.4% | 62.9–69.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 67.0–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.2–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.0–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 20.9–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 24.2–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.1% | 14.5–19.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 27.8–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 16.9–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.2–6.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.3% | 23.8–33.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 19.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692 |
| Single-parent households | 51.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684 |
| Population 65+ | 25.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692 |
| Median age | 46.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689 |
| Median household income | $57,262 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659 |
| Median home value | $178,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627 |
| Median gross rent | $691 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $820 ($592–$1,257) n=519 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.4 yr ± 1.36 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.9 yr (76.2–81.8) n=687 |
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 1.36 years of 79.4, 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