ZIP code
68966
in Orleans, NebraskaPopulation 426
53.53/ 100
Ranked #11,327 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #306 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
Radon
3.9 pCi/L
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS98thDefinition & 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
47.1 mi
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & 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
3.0%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
28%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
41.9 days/year
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Orleans, Nebraska (ZIP 68966) sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,327th) and the bottom 46% of Nebraska (306th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 7.3% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 9.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 11.3% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity resides in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled radon settles in the top 2.4% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled nitrate is in the top 5.1% nationally, and extreme heat rests in the top 11.3% nationally. Home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 12.3% nationally.
In plain 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. ZIP 68971, about 2.8 miles away, 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.
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 76%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
67647
Kansasshares a border
Score 44.74
Closest healthier
68971
Nebraskaabout 2.8 mi away
Score 53.75
Similar health profile
68406
Nebraska98% similar profile
Score 51.83
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 | 30.9% | 26.7–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.9% | 34.9–45.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 6.8–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 16.6% | 13.5–20.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.2–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 33.6–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 27.3–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 6.7–10.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.2–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.6% | 79.5–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 74.5–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.4–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.8% | 57.8–67.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.5% | 59.9–67.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.1% | 67.4–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 14.5–21.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 11.8–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 24.1–35.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 25.4–38.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 14.7–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 9.8–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 26.5–36.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 12.8–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 16.5–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.2–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 5.8–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.2–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.0% | 23.0–33.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.4–6.5 |
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 | 17.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.5% | 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 | 7.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 56.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 36.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 49.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $62,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $66,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $588 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 1.11 | 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 1.11 years of 81.1, 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