ZIP code
66850
in Elmdale, KansasPopulation 202
47.10/ 100
Ranked #20,047 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranked #479 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (bottom 30%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
3.5%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.8 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.5 mi
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.0%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
21.8%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
7.7 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS81stDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
42.7%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›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
Elmdale, Kansas (ZIP 66850), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 37% nationally (20,047th) and the bottom 30% of Kansas (479th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the bottom 4.1% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 4.5% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Crowded housing resides at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Working the other way, walkability lies in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 6.9% nationally. Slow internet speeds stands in the top 11.3% nationally, and modeled extreme heat is in the top 13.0% nationally. Modeled mammography rests in the bottom 13.2% nationally, and poverty sits in the top 15% nationally.
In everyday language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 66838, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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
66838
Kansasshares a border
Score 49.14
Closest healthier
66845
Kansasshares a border
Score 47.94
Similar health profile
79062
Texas96% similar profile
Score 44.99
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 | 29.2% | 25.6–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.0% | 32.5–41.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.2–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.5–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.0–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 31.0–48.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.0% | 12.9–19.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 7.3–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 75.8–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 72.6–80.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.2% | 80.7–85.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.3–67.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 58.6–65.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.8% | 61.1–77.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.2–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 14.5–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.0% | 22.7–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 27.4–40.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 17.2–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.0–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.2–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.6–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 28.4–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.3–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.5% | 16.9–24.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 11.1–17.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.0–11.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.3–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.7% | 24.6–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.7–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 3.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 19.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692 |
| Single-parent households | 42.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692 |
| Median age | 45.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689 |
| Median household income | $93,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659 |
| Median home value | $110,100 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.46 | 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 1.46 years of 78.9, 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