ZIP code
68943
in Hardy, NebraskaPopulation 241
55.04/ 100
Ranked #9,395 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #227 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Median household income
$180,577
in the top 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Radon
4.1 pCi/L
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
41 mi
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
21.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
27.3%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
3.6%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.5%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.6%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.10%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Hardy, Nebraska (ZIP 68943), on the composite measure, lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,395th) and the top 40% of Nebraska (227th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: household income stands in the top 1.7% nationally, modeled short sleep is in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 4.5% nationally. Modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and housing insecurity registers in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled radon resides in the top 1.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center lies in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled nitrate settles in the top 2.1% nationally, and slow internet speeds stands in the top 7.1% 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 68974, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
66964
Kansasshares a border
Score 49.40
Closest healthier
68974
Nebraskashares a border
Score 55.45
Similar health profile
68937
Nebraska99% similar profile
Score 55.83
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 | 31.4% | 28.4–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.4% | 36.9–44.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.0% | 11.0–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 17.0% | 14.7–19.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 11.1–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.6–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 34.5–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.9–13.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 5.7–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.3% | 81.1–85.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.4–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.2–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 64.4–73.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.6% | 65.8–71.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 70.3–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.8% | 14.4–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.4–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 22.5–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.3% | 22.6–32.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.2–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 25.9–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–22.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.5–11.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.1–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.5% | 23.6–32.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 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) | 3.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.1% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 76.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 47.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 58.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $180,577 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $529 | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 1.54 | 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 1.54 years of 81.0, 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