ZIP code
68748
in Madison, NebraskaPopulation 2,706
48.90/ 100
Ranked #17,797 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #507 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 10.5%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
8.7%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Radon
4.8 pCi/L
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
44.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
2.0%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
56.7%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.66 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.8%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.7%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
69.6%
in the bottom 12.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Madison, Nebraska (ZIP 68748), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 44% nationally (17,797th) and the bottom 10.5% of Nebraska (507th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled energy burden lies in the top 0.6% nationally, modeled radon settles in the top 0.4% nationally, and fatal road crashes stands in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled nitrate is in the top 5.6% nationally, colon screening rests in the bottom 6.9% nationally, and uninsured sits in the top 7.9% nationally. Crowded housing registers in the top 9.1% nationally. On the encouraging side, civic lands in the top 8.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pharmacy lies in the top 11.6% nationally.
In everyday 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 68631, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
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 ›
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 12.8; chronic-disease standing 70.3 — 58 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,159 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
68631
Nebraskashares a border
Score 59.14
Closest healthier
68642
Nebraskashares a border
Score 58.22
Similar health profile
20784
Maryland94% similar profile
Score 53.36
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 | 23.0% | 20.7–25.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.6% | 31.4–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 15.1% | 13.0–17.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.2–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.9% | 36.8–47.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 11.1–16.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.8% | 13.8–20.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.4–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.7% | 70.4–76.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.0% | 79.9–84.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.7% | 51.7–61.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.0% | 53.3–60.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.6% | 61.8–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.6–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 13.0–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.3% | 28.0–36.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 29.2–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.4% | 17.8–23.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.8% | 26.2–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–16.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.5–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.0% | 16.0–22.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.0–14.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.0% | 26.7–35.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 25.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 28.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 46.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 37.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $69,740 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $148,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $962 | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 79.1, 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