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ZipVitals

ZIP code

66608

in Topeka, KansasPopulation 4,216

39.08/ 100

Ranked #27,335 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.8%)

Ranked #664 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (bottom 2.7%)

Ranked #54 of 57 Topeka, KS ZIPs (bottom 5.3%)

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.

Transit access

7.7 per 1,000 residents

in the top 2.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The number of public-transit stops 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 ›

Loud transportation noise

3.6%

in the top 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Transportation noise

18%

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Mental-health provider access

0.19 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›

Elder-services access

0.19 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST77th
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Cognitive disability

19.5%

in the top 11.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US88th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

12.6%

in the top 12.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US88th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

42.8%

in the top 9.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US90th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Walkability

85 intersections/sq mi

in the top 12.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Subsidized affordable housing

131 units

in the top 16% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US84th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite measure, ZIP 66608, one of several in Topeka, Kansas sits in the bottom 14.8% nationally (27,335th) and the bottom 2.7% of Kansas (664th).

continue reading

The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: transit is in the top 2.1% nationally, mental-health providers rests in the top 4.6% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 7.6% nationally. Walkability registers in the top 12.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 2.8% nationally, and transportation noise lies in the top 3.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the top 11.6% nationally, and utility shutoff stands in the top 12.3% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the top 9.8% nationally.

In plain language, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. ZIP 66616, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 69%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 19%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 36%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 12%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 26%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 11%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 21%

8%

Disability

healthier than 15%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 30%

5%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 63%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 82%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 7%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 33%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 9%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 16%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 3%

8%

Disability

healthier than 4%

7%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 82%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 54%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 4%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 20%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 7%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 5%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 5%

8%

Disability

healthier than 5%

7%

“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 adults30.5%28.3–33.0
High blood pressure among adults42.5%39.7–45.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.5%7.7–9.3
Current asthma among adults11.6%10.4–12.9
Coronary heart disease among adults8.6%7.7–9.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.7%9.6–12.0
Depression among adults25.5%23.0–28.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.9%13.3–16.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.6%39.7–45.5
Obesity among adults42.8%39.0–46.8
Stroke among adults4.4%4.0–4.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.6%16.6–22.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years12.4%10.6–14.5
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.3%75.9–80.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.0%75.3–80.5
Cholesterol screening among adults82.8%80.9–84.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years63.9%60.2–67.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults57.2%54.2–60.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years73.2%67.4–78.2
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.6%12.7–16.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults22.6%19.9–25.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults32.5%29.2–36.0
Short sleep duration among adults39.2%35.7–42.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults26.6%24.0–29.4
Frequent mental distress among adults18.7%16.9–20.7
Frequent physical distress among adults16.6%14.9–18.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults19.5%17.5–21.6
Any disability among adults40.0%36.7–43.4
Hearing disability among adults9.4%8.5–10.4
Independent living disability among adults11.4%10.2–12.7
Mobility disability among adults19.8%17.8–22.0
Self-care disability among adults5.6%5.0–6.2
Vision disability among adults7.0%6.3–7.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.9%20.2–25.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults21.0%18.3–23.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults14.6%12.4–16.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.6%13.7–17.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults10.4%9.2–11.7
Loneliness among adults32.8%29.6–36.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults12.6%11.2–14.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)KS median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate18.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688
Uninsured 18–6416.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686
No HS diploma (25+)9.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689
Bachelor's or higher (25+)10.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689
Unemployment rate (16+)7.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689
Households without a vehicle6.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688
Broadband subscription83.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)20.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32219.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688
Homeownership rate63.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32279.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688
Foreign-born population1.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692
Single-parent households53.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684
Population 65+22.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692
Median age42.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689
Median household income$49,126$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659
Median home value$87,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627
Median gross rent$866$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 birth72.9 yr ± 1.3678.9 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 1.36 years of 72.9, 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