ZIP code
68826
in Central City, NebraskaPopulation 3,944
52.29/ 100
Ranked #13,056 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #385 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #13 of 17 Grand Island, NE ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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.
Transportation noise
29.5%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
15.5%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.25 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.74 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.0%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
33.5%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
45.8%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS83rdDefinition & 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 health measure, Central City, Nebraska (ZIP 68826) ranks in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,056th) and the bottom 32% of Nebraska (385th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Elder services resides in the top 5.7% nationally, and civic registers in the top 7.1% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled transportation noise stands in the top 1.2% nationally, nitrate lies in the top 2.5% nationally, and loud transportation noise lands in the top 5.5% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 7.3% nationally, floodplain exposure is in the top 8.6% nationally, and modeled binge drinking settles in the top 8.3% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Close by, ZIP 68846, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Grand Island, 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 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
68628
Nebraskashares a border
Score 50.07
Closest healthier
68846
Nebraskashares a border
Score 56.33
Similar health profile
68649
Nebraska97% similar profile
Score 55.69
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 | 28.9% | 25.5–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.1% | 31.9–40.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 18.3% | 15.5–21.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.6% | 30.5–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 31.6–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.7% | 9.3–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.0–11.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.4–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.3% | 72.5–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.3–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.0–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 58.6–66.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 64.2–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.4% | 23.7–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.6% | 24.7–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.3% | 14.7–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.3% | 26.0–34.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 11.9–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 17.4–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.2–13.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.5–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.1–10.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 24.8–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.0–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 53.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $74,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $172,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $678 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 76.6, 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