ZIP code
68522
in Lincoln, NebraskaPopulation 14,836
52.14/ 100
Ranked #13,266 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #393 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #42 of 46 Lincoln, NE ZIPs (bottom 8.7%)
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.
Binge drinking
22.1%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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
28.7%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
56.2%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Park land
17.8%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
97.8%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.3%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
9.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.8%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.2%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 68522, one of several in Lincoln, Nebraska sits in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,266th) and the bottom 31% of Nebraska (393rd).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 2.4% nationally, park land resides in the top 7.7% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease stands in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 1.8% nationally, and radon sits in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled colon screening stands in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 8.4% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 9.0% nationally, and crowded housing stands in the top 10.2% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 68339, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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 7.9 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 90.5 (top 10%) — 83 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,381 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.
Nearby
68339
Nebraskashares a border
Score 62.38
Closest healthier
68502
Nebraskashares a border
Score 55.97
Similar health profile
77002
Texas98% similar profile
Score 56.83
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 | 19.7% | 18.0–21.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.0% | 26.8–31.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.7–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 28.7% | 26.4–30.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 34.7–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.7% | 12.3–17.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.0% | 10.2–13.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.2% | 68.5–73.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.5% | 69.9–74.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 78.7% | 76.5–80.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.2% | 52.2–60.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.9% | 56.0–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 67.2–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.1% | 19.8–24.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.7–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.2% | 20.6–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 29.9–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.3% | 24.6–30.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 21.0–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.9–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 29.1–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 43.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 7.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 32.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $77,597 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $235,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $1,204 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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