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ZipVitals

ZIP code

68405

in Milford, NebraskaPopulation 3,575

56.03/ 100

Ranked #8,246 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)

Ranked #180 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 32%)

Ranked #38 of 46 Lincoln, NE ZIPs (bottom 17%)

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

4.6 pCi/L

in the top 0.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST89th
US99th
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 ›

Binge drinking

21.3%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Grocery access

0.3 per 1,000 residents

in the top 3.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”

Full methodology ›

Elder-services access

0.3 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST83rd
US95th
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 ›

Transportation noise

12.3%

in the top 6.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US94th
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 ›

Child-care access

0.59 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST76th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The number of child day-care services 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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

0.12%

in the top 8.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST62nd
US92nd
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 ›

Short sleep

29.7%

in the bottom 8.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST44th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

2.8%

in the top 11.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US88th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.

Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

32.6%

in the bottom 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST11th
US8th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

The read

In overall standing, Milford, Nebraska (ZIP 68405) comes out in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,246th) and the top 32% of Nebraska (180th).

continue reading

Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: grocery settles in the top 3.7% nationally, elder services registers in the top 4.7% nationally, and childcare stands in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 8.3% nationally, modeled loneliness is in the bottom 10.3% nationally, and fiber broadband resides in the top 11.4% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon rests in the top 0.7% nationally, and binge drinking lies in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 6.1% nationally, and nitrate settles in the top 8.2% nationally.

Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 68423, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Lincoln, NE metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 83%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 64%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 89%

8%

Disability

healthier than 80%

7%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 53%

11%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 13%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 23%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 36%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 19%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 86%

21%

Disability

healthier than 74%

7%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 57%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 41%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 59%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 12%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 10%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 14%

8%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 53%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 29%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 27%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 18%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 13%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 31%

8%

Disability

healthier than 24%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 38%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 22%

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 ›

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.

  • Heavy environment, light chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 12.6; chronic-disease standing 83.4 — 71 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #16,460 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.

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 adults24.9%22.0–27.9
High blood pressure among adults31.9%28.4–35.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.5%7.7–9.4
Current asthma among adults9.2%8.1–10.5
Coronary heart disease among adults6.0%5.3–6.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.2%5.3–7.2
Depression among adults18.6%15.7–21.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.7%8.3–11.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.6%28.9–36.4
Obesity among adults34.9%28.9–41.3
Stroke among adults3.0%2.7–3.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years8.0%6.3–9.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.5%5.9–9.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.0%74.1–79.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults73.5%69.6–77.1
Cholesterol screening among adults82.0%79.3–84.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.4%56.7–67.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.3%61.3–68.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years71.0%62.1–78.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults21.3%18.0–24.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.4%11.0–15.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.2%20.2–28.6
Short sleep duration among adults29.7%24.2–35.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults14.8%12.4–17.3
Frequent mental distress among adults14.3%12.2–16.4
Frequent physical distress among adults11.6%10.0–13.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%10.2–14.2
Any disability among adults27.9%23.9–32.4
Hearing disability among adults7.5%6.6–8.5
Independent living disability among adults6.7%5.8–7.8
Mobility disability among adults11.4%9.6–13.2
Self-care disability among adults3.0%2.6–3.5
Vision disability among adults3.9%3.4–4.5
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.0%16.6–23.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.9%7.9–12.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.3–8.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.8%6.4–9.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.0–7.1
Loneliness among adults28.5%23.9–33.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.4%4.6–6.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate6.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578
Uninsured 18–6411.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579
No HS diploma (25+)8.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578
Bachelor's or higher (25+)26.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578
Unemployment rate (16+)4.2%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579
Households without a vehicle5.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578
Broadband subscription87.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)15.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578
Homeownership rate65.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578
Foreign-born population1.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579
Single-parent households58.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577
Population 65+17.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55321.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579
Median age35.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577
Median household income$75,250$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556
Median home value$244,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533
Median gross rent$890$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$850 ($610–$1,250) n=442
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth78.5 yr ± 0.9378.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.1 yr (77.4–83.0) n=553

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 0.93 years of 78.5, 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