ZIP code
68524
in Lincoln, NebraskaPopulation 6,139
51.76/ 100
Ranked #13,754 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #409 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #44 of 46 Lincoln, NE ZIPs (bottom 4.4%)
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
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS97thDefinition & 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
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & 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
29.2%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
1.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.8%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
57.9%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
5.1%
in the bottom 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
29.7%
in the bottom 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.8%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 68524, one of several in Lincoln, Nebraska, by its overall standing, sits in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,754th) and the bottom 28% of Nebraska (409th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 2.7% nationally, fatal road crashes rests in the bottom 5.8% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure sits in the bottom 10.1% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon settles in the top 3.4% nationally, and binge drinking registers in the top 2.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 6.5% nationally, and modeled colon screening lands in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 11.8% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the top 12.5% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 68402, 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 87%
21%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
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 16.9; chronic-disease standing 86.7 — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,366 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
68402
Nebraskashares a border
Score 61.01
Closest healthier
68423
Nebraskashares a border
Score 57.63
Similar health profile
77598
Texas96% similar profile
Score 52.32
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 | 21.6% | 19.7–23.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.7% | 27.3–31.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 20.2–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.2% | 26.9–31.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 35.9–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.8–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.0% | 10.1–14.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.9% | 70.2–75.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.5% | 71.0–75.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.0% | 77.9–82.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.9% | 54.1–61.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.1% | 61.3–67.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.6% | 69.8–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.3% | 19.1–23.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 13.9–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.0% | 21.2–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 28.5–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.3% | 25.6–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.3% | 14.8–20.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.1–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 28.8–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 37.1% | 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 | 30.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $81,045 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $234,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $973 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 78.2, 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