ZIP code
68847
in Kearney, NebraskaPopulation 18,354
56.23/ 100
Ranked #8,035 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #171 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 30%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 7.1% 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 ›Binge drinking
20.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
2.1%
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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Elder-services access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.7%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Recreation access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Lead in tap water
5.6 ppb
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 68847, one of several in Kearney, Nebraska, by its overall standing, sits in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,035th) and the top 30% of Nebraska (171st).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 5.9% nationally, elder services registers in the top 6.5% nationally, and childcare stands in the top 7.3% nationally. Recreation lands in the top 8.4% nationally. By contrast, modeled disaster risk is in the top 2.4% nationally, and radon resides in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the top 5.2% nationally, and nitrate lies in the top 5.6% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 6.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 68845, 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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
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
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 25.4; chronic-disease standing 76.3 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,479 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
68840
Nebraskashares a border
Score 54.98
Closest healthier
68845
Nebraskashares a border
Score 57.57
Similar health profile
68980
Nebraska98% similar profile
Score 56.26
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 | 24.5% | 22.0–27.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.8% | 30.6–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 17.9% | 15.5–20.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.7% | 29.5–36.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 33.4–43.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.4–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 75.1–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 72.4–78.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.8% | 80.9–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.4% | 57.8–66.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.5% | 59.3–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 67.8–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.3% | 17.6–23.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–15.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.7% | 21.3–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 27.2–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.9% | 23.6–30.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.4–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.6–14.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.8% | 24.6–33.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 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 | 6.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 46.3% | 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 | 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 | $73,818 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $238,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $976 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 79.8, 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