ZIP code
68859
in North Loup, NebraskaPopulation 357
51.91/ 100
Ranked #13,566 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #401 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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
6.6%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
64.7%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.8 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$50,000
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
North Loup, Nebraska (ZIP 68859) ranks in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,566th) and the bottom 29% of Nebraska (401st).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled short sleep rests in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness settles in the bottom 11.6% nationally, fiber broadband rests in the top 13.0% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity lands in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Crowded housing settles at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled energy burden rests in the top 1.5% nationally, home broadband subscription lands in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 6.7% nationally. Modeled obesity rests in the top 12.1% nationally.
For context, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 68835, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
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
68817
Nebraskashares a border
Score 50.52
Closest healthier
68835
Nebraskashares a border
Score 53.83
Similar health profile
57342
South Dakota97% similar profile
Score 51.57
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 | 32.9% | 29.5–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.7–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 16.5% | 14.1–19.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 11.9–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 34.3–42.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 35.0–49.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.4–12.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 6.8–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.8% | 81.5–85.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.5–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.1–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 63.8–73.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 62.4–69.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.6% | 68.3–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.2–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 11.9–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.1% | 24.3–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.0% | 23.4–35.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 15.7–21.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 27.4–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.4% | 13.9–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.4–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.9% | 15.6–22.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 6.8–10.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.4–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.7% | 23.7–34.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.1% | 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 | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 64.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 70.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 39.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 56.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $101,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $618 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 1.69 | 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 1.69 years of 80.2, 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