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ZipVitals

ZIP code

67657

in Palco, KansasPopulation 326

50.33/ 100

Ranked #15,800 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)

Ranked #302 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (top 44%)

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

Broad coverage across 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.

Nitrate in drinking water

47.8%

in the top 1.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›

Radon

3.7 pCi/L

in the top 3.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST89th
US96th
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 ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 4.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US4th
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 ›

Fiber broadband

99%

in the top 4.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST87th
US95th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

in the bottom 5.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST11th
US5th
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 ›

Distance to a Superfund site

65.2 mi

in the top 7.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

28.1%

in the bottom 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST14th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

0.97%

in the top 11.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US88th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

43.4%

in the top 9.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US91st
Definition & source ›

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

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

On balance, and by the composite measure, Palco, Kansas (ZIP 67657) ranks in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,800th) and the top 44% of Kansas (302nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and fiber broadband sits in the top 4.7% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 7.5% nationally, and modeled loneliness settles in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled nitrate resides in the top 1.0% nationally, radon lands in the top 3.8% nationally, and extreme heat registers in the top 10.1% nationally.

In plainer terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 67637, 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

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 69%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 76%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 80%

8%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 58%

11%

Disability

healthier than 48%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 25%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 35%

14%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 18%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 16%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 78%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 90%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 79%

8%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 42%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 56%

11%

Disability

healthier than 46%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 13%

21%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 20%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 31%

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 adults34.9%31.2–38.7
High blood pressure among adults41.5%37.2–45.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.3%10.2–12.5
Current asthma among adults10.3%9.1–11.5
Coronary heart disease among adults8.5%7.3–9.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.2%7.5–11.1
Depression among adults21.1%18.1–24.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.1%11.9–16.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened43.4%39.0–47.7
Obesity among adults41.8%34.6–49.3
Stroke among adults4.2%3.6–4.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.1%8.3–12.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.3%6.4–10.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure83.6%80.9–85.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.9%77.9–83.8
Cholesterol screening among adults89.0%87.4–90.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.5%63.8–73.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.0%61.5–68.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years73.6%66.3–80.2
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults13.9%11.5–16.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.5%12.4–18.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults29.1%24.0–34.4
Short sleep duration among adults35.2%29.4–41.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.8%16.3–23.4
Frequent mental distress among adults14.6%12.8–16.5
Frequent physical distress among adults14.4%12.3–16.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.4%11.5–15.6
Any disability among adults32.9%28.0–38.0
Hearing disability among adults9.4%8.1–10.7
Independent living disability among adults7.9%6.7–9.3
Mobility disability among adults16.8%13.9–19.8
Self-care disability among adults4.1%3.5–4.8
Vision disability among adults4.8%4.1–5.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.1%16.9–23.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.2%9.0–13.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.3–8.6
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.2%7.6–11.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.0–7.0
Loneliness among adults28.1%23.8–32.8
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.1%6.0–8.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)KS median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688
Uninsured 18–646.1%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+)21.8%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 vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688
Broadband subscription93.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)13.8%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)1.6%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692
Single-parent households43.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684
Population 65+31.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692
Median age41.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689
Median household income$67,292$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659
Median home value$114,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627
Median gross rent$625$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 birth77.7 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 77.7, 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