ZIP code
68845
in Kearney, NebraskaPopulation 20,536
57.57/ 100
Ranked #6,743 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #118 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
Binge drinking
21.4%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
30.8%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.3%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
9.5%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
264 units
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.2 ppb
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US91stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›The read
ZIP 68845, one of several in Kearney, Nebraska, in overall standing, comes out in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,743rd) and the top 21% of Nebraska (118th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 4.3% nationally, outpatient is in the top 8.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 9.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled binge drinking registers in the top 2.5% nationally, and disaster risk is in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled radon lies in the top 6.7% nationally, and slow internet speeds registers in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled transportation noise is in the top 9.4% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the top 9.4% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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 closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 68836, 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 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.0 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $76,978 predicts 79.0 years — 3.0 years above.
Ranked #452 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 33.5; chronic-disease standing 87.4 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,792 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
68812
Nebraskashares a border
Score 56.99
Closest healthier
68836
Nebraskashares a border
Score 57.77
Similar health profile
07311
New Jersey97% similar profile
Score 74.02
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 | 22.1% | 19.8–24.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 27.8–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 18.7% | 16.1–21.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.8% | 27.7–34.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 32.5–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.3–10.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.4–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.1% | 72.6–77.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.6% | 71.4–77.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.1% | 79.2–83.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.4% | 57.8–66.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.5% | 60.3–66.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 67.6–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.4% | 18.5–24.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.8% | 19.6–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 27.2–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.4% | 22.2–28.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.4–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–9.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.7% | 25.3–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 57.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 17.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 34.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $76,978 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $282,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $931 | $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 | 82.0 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 82.0, 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