ZIP code
66526
in Paxico, KansasPopulation 693
53.65/ 100
Ranked #11,150 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #139 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #21 of 57 Topeka, KS ZIPs (top 37%)
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.
Elder-services access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.1%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
17.6 mi
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
5.5%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
7.6%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
4.4 mi
in the top 31% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS69thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
Paxico, Kansas (ZIP 66526), on the composite measure, lands in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,150th) and the top 20% of Kansas (139th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: elder services registers in the top 0.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband resides in the top 8.1% nationally, and modeled loneliness lies in the bottom 14.1% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a community health center settles in the top 9.8% nationally, and crowded housing stands in the top 12.2% nationally. Modeled transportation noise is in the top 13.3% nationally, and radon rests in the top 14.8% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits in the top 13.5% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 13.6% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 66501, just across the boundary.
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
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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
66401
Kansasshares a border
Score 53.62
Closest healthier
66501
Kansasshares a border
Score 54.91
Similar health profile
57461
South Dakota99% similar profile
Score 54.37
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 | 29.5% | 26.1–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.3% | 32.1–40.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.2–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.2–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.9% | 28.3–43.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 8.9–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.1–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.3% | 77.2–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.5% | 73.8–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.5–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.1% | 61.9–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.4% | 64.9–71.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.6% | 65.4–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.2–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.2–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.3% | 20.7–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.7% | 26.5–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 14.9–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.0–34.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.5–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.6–7.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.6–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.0% | 24.3–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 28.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 19.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692 |
| Single-parent households | 50.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689 |
| Median household income | $78,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659 |
| Median home value | $170,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 80.6, 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