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ZipVitals

ZIP code

68733

in Emerson, NebraskaPopulation 1,101

47.73/ 100

Ranked #19,274 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)

Ranked #534 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 5.7%)

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

5.3 pCi/L

in the top 0.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

0.45%

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST66th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Fatal road crashes

36.3 per 100,000 residents per year

in the top 8.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US91st
Definition & 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 ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

0.94%

in the top 9.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

43.3%

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Dry extreme heat

24.5 days/year

in the top 19% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US81st
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

60.4%

in the bottom 16% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST10th
US16th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Arsenic in groundwater

2.1%

in the bottom 27% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US27th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›

Tooth loss

18.6%

in the top 23% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US77th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

The read

Emerson, Nebraska (ZIP 68733), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 40% nationally (19,274th) and the bottom 5.7% of Nebraska (534th).

continue reading

The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 16% nationally, and housing-cost burden is in the bottom 17% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon resides in the top 0.2% nationally, and nitrate rests in the top 7.3% nationally. Fatal road crashes lies in the top 8.8% nationally, and modeled fine-particle sits in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled obesity settles in the top 8.0% nationally, and hearing disability registers in the top 11.8% nationally. Recreation stands at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.

Defined in plain terms, 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 68710, 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.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 42%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 37%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 32%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 13%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 26%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 36%

11%

Disability

healthier than 34%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 27%

5%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 62%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 68%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 14%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 20%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 14%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 12%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 13%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 20%

8%

Disability

healthier than 7%

7%

“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.

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 adults28.5%26.6–30.5
High blood pressure among adults37.9%35.7–40.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.0%9.3–10.6
Current asthma among adults9.6%8.9–10.4
Coronary heart disease among adults8.8%8.1–9.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.0%8.1–9.9
Depression among adults17.4%15.8–19.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.5%12.4–14.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened36.3%34.0–38.6
Obesity among adults43.3%39.5–47.0
Stroke among adults4.4%4.0–4.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years18.6%16.3–21.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.9%9.5–12.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.2%79.5–82.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults76.7%74.6–78.8
Cholesterol screening among adults83.1%81.7–84.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years60.4%57.1–63.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.8%57.3–62.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years72.4%67.6–77.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.5%15.7–19.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.1%15.4–18.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults32.0%29.0–34.9
Short sleep duration among adults31.2%27.9–34.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.5%18.6–22.5
Frequent mental distress among adults14.7%13.6–15.9
Frequent physical distress among adults14.3%13.1–15.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.9%12.7–15.2
Any disability among adults34.2%31.5–36.8
Hearing disability among adults10.7%9.9–11.6
Independent living disability among adults9.1%8.2–9.9
Mobility disability among adults16.8%15.3–18.4
Self-care disability among adults4.5%4.1–4.9
Vision disability among adults5.9%5.4–6.5
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.3%20.0–24.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults14.8%13.1–16.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults11.2%9.6–12.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.3%9.1–11.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.8%7.0–8.6
Loneliness among adults30.8%27.8–34.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.3%6.5–8.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate13.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578
Uninsured 18–6412.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579
No HS diploma (25+)9.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578
Bachelor's or higher (25+)13.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578
Unemployment rate (16+)3.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579
Households without a vehicle3.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578
Broadband subscription85.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)14.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578
Homeownership rate72.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.7%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578
Foreign-born population2.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579
Single-parent households57.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577
Population 65+24.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55321.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579
Median age44.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577
Median household income$64,479$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556
Median home value$132,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533
Median gross rent$702$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 birth81.9 yr ± 1.3878.9 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 1.38 years of 81.9, 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