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ZIP code

68502

in Lincoln, NebraskaPopulation 25,846

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

55.97/ 100

Ranked #8,310 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)

Ranked #185 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 33%)

Ranked #39 of 46 Lincoln, NE ZIPs (bottom 15%)

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

3.8 pCi/L

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST58th
US97th
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 ›

Fiber broadband

99.9%

in the top 1.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US98th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

21.4%

in the top 2.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US98th
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 ›

High cholesterol

30.1%

in the bottom 3.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US3rd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US93rd
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 ›

Walkability

130 intersections/sq mi

in the top 7.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Park land

16.1%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 9.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US90th
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 11.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US89th
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 ›

Floodplain exposure

27.3%

in the top 11.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US88th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.

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 ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 68502, one of several in Lincoln, Nebraska ranks in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,310th) and the top 33% of Nebraska (185th).

continue reading

Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: fiber broadband sits in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Walkability is in the top 7.0% nationally, and park land stands in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled radon lies in the top 2.9% nationally, binge drinking resides in the top 2.5% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 6.7% nationally. Modeled disaster risk registers in the top 9.6% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 11.5% nationally.

Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 68506, 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 90%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 67%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Disability

healthier than 82%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 90%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 53%

11%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 5%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 22%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 19%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 92%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 63%

16%

Disability

healthier than 77%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 97%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 42%

11%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 9%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 7%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 7%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 78%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 98%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 33%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 16%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 16%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 20%

8%

Disability

healthier than 33%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 4%

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

3 of our published findings list 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.

  • Below what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 77.0 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $68,523 predicts 78.6 years — 1.6 years below.

    Ranked #1,944 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 77.0 ± 1.3 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.5 years — 3.5 years below them.

    Ranked #2,729 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

  • Heavy environment, light chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 5.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 89.6 — 84 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #17,507 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 adults21.3%19.5–23.0
High blood pressure among adults29.8%27.5–31.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults6.9%6.3–7.5
Current asthma among adults9.3%8.3–10.2
Coronary heart disease among adults5.1%4.6–5.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.5%4.9–6.1
Depression among adults20.2%18.2–22.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.6%8.5–10.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened30.1%27.9–32.2
Obesity among adults36.4%33.2–39.4
Stroke among adults2.7%2.5–2.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.0%8.2–12.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.6%9.1–11.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure74.1%71.6–76.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults74.5%72.0–76.7
Cholesterol screening among adults81.6%79.7–83.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years61.7%57.8–65.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults63.5%60.7–66.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.2%70.5–81.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults21.4%19.2–23.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.3%11.7–15.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults21.0%18.7–23.3
Short sleep duration among adults31.6%28.2–35.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.9%14.2–17.6
Frequent mental distress among adults14.9%13.4–16.3
Frequent physical distress among adults10.5%9.4–11.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.5%11.2–13.9
Any disability among adults25.9%23.5–28.3
Hearing disability among adults6.2%5.6–6.9
Independent living disability among adults7.1%6.4–7.9
Mobility disability among adults10.3%9.2–11.5
Self-care disability among adults3.1%2.8–3.4
Vision disability among adults4.3%3.9–4.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.9%19.4–24.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults13.8%12.1–15.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.6%9.2–12.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.0%9.6–12.6
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.8–8.7
Loneliness among adults31.0%27.8–34.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.6%6.7–8.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate13.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578
Uninsured 18–6411.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579
No HS diploma (25+)7.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578
Bachelor's or higher (25+)39.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578
Unemployment rate (16+)4.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579
Households without a vehicle7.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578
Broadband subscription93.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)27.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578
Homeownership rate55.6%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578
Foreign-born population8.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579
Single-parent households45.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577
Population 65+15.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55321.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579
Median age36.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577
Median household income$68,523$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556
Median home value$227,300$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533
Median gross rent$850$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 birth77.0 yr ± 0.6578.9 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 0.65 years of 77.0, 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