ZIP code
68442
in Stella, NebraskaPopulation 211
54.76/ 100
Ranked #9,750 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #244 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Radon
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST51stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
27.1%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.0%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
25.8 mi
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS95thDefinition & 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
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.7 mi
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
58.7 mi
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
43.4%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
70.7%
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Stella, Nebraska (ZIP 68442) sits in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,750th) and the top 43% of Nebraska (244th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and fiber broadband lies in the top 5.6% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 9.0% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon rests in the top 3.9% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 4.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers in the top 5.4% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lands in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled obesity resides in the top 7.7% nationally.
In plain language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 68378, about 7.4 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
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.
Nearby
68305
Nebraskashares a border
Score 48.36
Closest healthier
68378
Nebraskaabout 7.4 mi away
Score 54.78
Similar health profile
68667
Nebraska99% similar profile
Score 56.79
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 | 31.7% | 28.7–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.2% | 37.5–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.5% | 10.5–12.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 34.2–41.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.4% | 37.8–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.7% | 9.7–14.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.3–9.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.1% | 80.9–85.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.6–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.2–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 65.9–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.5% | 63.1–69.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 70.2–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.3–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 11.7–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.5% | 25.3–34.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.1% | 22.4–32.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.8–19.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.8–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.8% | 16.6–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.8–11.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.5–8.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 24.3–33.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.1–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 77.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 41.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 64.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $127,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $850 ($610–$1,250) n=442 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.4 yr ± 2.02 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.1 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 2.02 years of 82.4, 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