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ZIP code

66962

in Palmer, KansasPopulation 302

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

48.69/ 100

Ranked #18,088 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)

Ranked #402 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (bottom 41%)

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.

Radon

4.1 pCi/L

in the top 1.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

34 mi

in the top 3.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST89th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Fiber broadband

98.6%

in the top 5.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST85th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.03%

in the bottom 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST14th
US7th
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 ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST11th
US7th
Definition & 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 ›

Slow internet speeds

1.4%

in the top 8.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the bottom 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST8th
US20th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

33.3%

in the top 21% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US79th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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

Palmer, Kansas (ZIP 66962), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 44% nationally (18,088th) and the bottom 41% of Kansas (402nd).

continue reading

The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled radon settles in the top 1.6% nationally, distance to a community health center lands in the top 3.2% nationally, and slow internet speeds rests in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles in the top 12.2% nationally. Better still, fiber broadband lands in the top 5.6% nationally, and modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing settles at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs.

Defined simply, for reference, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 66943, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 65%

8%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 47%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 46%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 42%

13%

Disability

healthier than 51%

7%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 35%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 33%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 3%

5%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 74%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 50%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 49%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 46%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 41%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 43%

8%

Disability

healthier than 53%

7%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 17%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

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 adults30.3%26.9–33.8
High blood pressure among adults37.4%33.2–41.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.6%8.7–10.6
Current asthma among adults10.4%9.2–11.7
Coronary heart disease among adults7.6%6.7–8.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.7%7.3–10.2
Depression among adults21.2%18.0–24.7
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.3%10.6–14.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.2%34.8–43.6
Obesity among adults36.3%28.7–44.2
Stroke among adults3.7%3.3–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years14.0%11.6–16.9
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.1%6.1–10.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.7%77.8–83.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.6%73.9–81.0
Cholesterol screening among adults85.6%83.5–87.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years61.2%56.0–66.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults62.8%59.2–66.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.1%66.6–80.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.1%13.3–19.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.6%14.3–21.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults29.0%24.1–34.7
Short sleep duration among adults35.3%29.0–41.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.1%16.1–22.4
Frequent mental distress among adults16.5%14.4–18.6
Frequent physical distress among adults14.0%12.2–16.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.8%12.6–16.9
Any disability among adults32.0%27.3–37.0
Hearing disability among adults8.5%7.5–9.7
Independent living disability among adults8.2%7.0–9.4
Mobility disability among adults15.6%13.1–18.3
Self-care disability among adults3.9%3.3–4.5
Vision disability among adults4.5%3.9–5.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.6%17.5–24.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.6%9.4–14.4
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.0%5.6–8.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.6%7.9–11.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.3%5.4–7.4
Loneliness among adults29.4%24.6–34.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.4%6.2–8.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)KS median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate20.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688
Uninsured 18–645.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686
No HS diploma (25+)6.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689
Bachelor's or higher (25+)25.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689
Households without a vehicle0.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688
Broadband subscription84.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)33.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32219.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688
Homeownership rate78.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32279.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688
Foreign-born population2.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692
Single-parent households68.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684
Population 65+21.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692
Median age41.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689
Median household income$74,583$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659
Median home value$303,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627
Median gross rent$585$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 birth80.5 yr ± 1.1478.9 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 1.14 years of 80.5, 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