ZIP code
66609
in Topeka, KansasPopulation 7,572
51.72/ 100
Ranked #13,804 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #220 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #36 of 57 Topeka, KS ZIPs (bottom 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.
PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.3%
in the top 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
78.7%
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
9.9%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS76thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Park land
2.6%
in the top 24% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 66609, one of several in Topeka, Kansas stands in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,804th) and the top 32% of Kansas (220th).
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: unemployment rests in the bottom 15% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 16% nationally. Transit settles in the top 16% nationally, and childcare rests in the top 17% nationally. On the other side, PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum, modeled extreme heat settles in the top 13.3% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 13.8% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 14.9% nationally, and transportation noise settles in the top 17% nationally. Physicians rests at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. ZIP 66409, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 67%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
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 ›
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.1 ± 2.4 years. A median household income of $67,675 predicts 78.5 years — 2.5 years above.
Ranked #626 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
66409
Kansasshares a border
Score 60.80
Closest healthier
66610
Kansasshares a border
Score 61.45
Similar health profile
29501
South Carolina95% similar profile
Score 54.19
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 | 27.4% | 25.1–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.3% | 36.6–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 20.8–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 37.9–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 35.7–43.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.7–13.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 76.1–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 77.0–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.3–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 65.0–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 63.1–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 73.8–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.0% | 23.1–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 33.3–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 18.3–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.9% | 29.9–35.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–23.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 28.3–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 19.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692 |
| Single-parent households | 43.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689 |
| Median household income | $67,675 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659 |
| Median home value | $109,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627 |
| Median gross rent | $1,130 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 81.1, 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