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ZipVitals

ZIP code

66543

in Vassar, KansasPopulation 980

50.99/ 100

Ranked #14,854 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)

Ranked #261 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (top 38%)

Ranked #40 of 57 Topeka, KS ZIPs (bottom 30%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Distance to an emergency room

25.4 mi

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

27%

in the bottom 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Arsenic in groundwater

1.4%

in the bottom 12.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US12th
Definition & 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 ›

Obesity

42.9%

in the top 9.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

30.8%

in the bottom 13.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US13th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

42.5%

in the top 13.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

The read

Vassar, Kansas (ZIP 66543) ranks in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,854th) and the top 38% of Kansas (261st).

continue reading

The bright spots in the data define much of the story here: modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise stands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and short sleep resides in the bottom 13.5% nationally. On the other side, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 2.9% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center resides in the top 11.8% nationally, and modeled obesity stands in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits in the top 14.7% nationally.

For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 66524, about 0.5 miles away.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 72%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 67%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 77%

8%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 56%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 55%

14%

Disability

healthier than 47%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 28%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 36%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 8%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 65%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 76%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 88%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 74%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 74%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 81%

5%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 44%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 15%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 17%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 71%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 77%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 68%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 79%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 77%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 55%

16%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Disability

healthier than 27%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 4%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults34.0%30.1–37.8
High blood pressure among adults42.0%37.5–46.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.7%9.7–11.9
Current asthma among adults10.2%9.0–11.6
Coronary heart disease among adults8.4%7.3–9.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.0%7.5–10.6
Depression among adults20.5%17.3–23.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.7%11.6–15.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.5%37.8–47.1
Obesity among adults42.9%35.3–50.4
Stroke among adults4.0%3.6–4.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.9%9.6–14.3
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.6%6.1–9.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure82.0%79.1–84.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.9%76.5–82.9
Cholesterol screening among adults88.3%86.6–89.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.5%62.6–72.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults64.7%61.1–68.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.7%67.4–81.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.4%11.8–17.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.9%13.9–20.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults28.5%23.5–33.5
Short sleep duration among adults30.8%25.2–36.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.0%16.9–23.5
Frequent mental distress among adults15.4%13.5–17.4
Frequent physical distress among adults14.3%12.4–16.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.0%12.0–16.1
Any disability among adults34.5%29.6–39.3
Hearing disability among adults9.4%8.2–10.6
Independent living disability among adults8.0%6.9–9.3
Mobility disability among adults16.8%14.2–19.5
Self-care disability among adults4.1%3.5–4.8
Vision disability among adults4.7%4.1–5.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.2%16.8–23.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.4%8.9–14.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.2–8.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.5%7.8–11.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.1%5.1–7.1
Loneliness among adults27.0%22.6–31.8
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.4%6.2–8.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)KS median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate5.4%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688
Uninsured 18–645.5%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686
No HS diploma (25+)4.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689
Bachelor's or higher (25+)19.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689
Unemployment rate (16+)2.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688
Broadband subscription92.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)21.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32219.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688
Homeownership rate88.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32279.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688
Foreign-born population0.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692
Single-parent households68.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684
Population 65+24.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692
Median age46.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689
Median household income$75,288$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659
Median home value$172,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627
Median gross rent$1,167$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$820 ($592–$1,257) n=519
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)KS median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth80.4 yr ± 1.8878.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.9 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 1.88 years of 80.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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