ZIP code
68662
in Shelby, NebraskaPopulation 1,088
55.15/ 100
Ranked #9,288 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #224 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 40%)
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
4.5 pCi/L
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
3.7%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.4%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.5%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST38thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
9.7%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
95.8%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
12.4%
in the bottom 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Shelby, Nebraska (ZIP 68662) sits in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,288th) and the top 40% of Nebraska (224th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 7.5% nationally, housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 9.0% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 9.7% nationally. Dental providers is in the top 10.1% nationally, poverty rests in the bottom 14.4% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the bottom 14.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon registers in the top 0.8% nationally, and nitrate lands in the top 4.7% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 4.8% nationally, and loud transportation noise lies in the top 15% nationally.
In plain language, 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. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. ZIP 68667, just across the boundary, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
“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 15.5; chronic-disease standing 69.5 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,805 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
68367
Nebraskashares a border
Score 54.49
Closest healthier
68667
Nebraskashares a border
Score 56.79
Similar health profile
68944
Nebraska99% similar profile
Score 56.12
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 | 26.2% | 23.4–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.4% | 30.9–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 16.5% | 14.1–19.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.5% | 29.7–37.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 33.6–48.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.4–17.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.6–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.4–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.6% | 69.9–77.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.3–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 57.0–66.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.8% | 60.2–66.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 69.1–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.4% | 17.3–24.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.7–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.1% | 23.8–32.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 23.9–34.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.4% | 14.2–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.4% | 24.7–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 18.1–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.1–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.6–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.8–34.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 57.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $89,706 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $168,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $855 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 80.2, 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