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ZipVitals

ZIP code

68981

in Upland, NebraskaPopulation 166

54.94/ 100

Ranked #9,510 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)

Ranked #235 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 42%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

ST63rd
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

14.0%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a community health center

27 mi

in the top 5.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

Poverty rate

30.1%

in the top 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

29.6%

in the bottom 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST41st
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Upland, Nebraska (ZIP 68981) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,510th) and the top 42% of Nebraska (235th).

continue reading

The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle stands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and loneliness lands in the bottom 10.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon sits in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled nitrate is in the top 2.7% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 5.0% nationally. Poverty resides in the top 6.8% nationally, modeled tree cover registers in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and lead in tap water rests in the top 12.4% nationally.

To spell things out, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Close by, ZIP 68959, just across the boundary, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 64%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 95%

8%

Disability

healthier than 66%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 55%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 55%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 59%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 44%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 36%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 4%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 71%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 66%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 57%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 56%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 57%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Disability

healthier than 47%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 39%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 31%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults29.9%26.5–33.3
High blood pressure among adults38.7%34.7–42.9
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.6%9.6–11.6
Current asthma among adults9.2%8.2–10.4
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%6.9–8.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.5%6.4–8.6
Depression among adults17.3%14.6–20.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.5%10.8–14.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.1%33.0–41.3
Obesity among adults38.4%31.0–46.4
Stroke among adults3.8%3.4–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.1%7.4–11.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.9%6.4–9.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.0%78.3–83.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.9%74.5–81.1
Cholesterol screening among adults87.0%85.2–88.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.8%57.6–67.9
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults67.3%64.1–70.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.4%66.2–81.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.7%15.7–22.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults14.5%12.1–17.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.8%22.4–31.8
Short sleep duration among adults29.6%23.8–36.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults16.9%14.5–19.4
Frequent mental distress among adults13.3%11.6–15.1
Frequent physical distress among adults12.9%11.3–14.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults11.4%9.9–12.9
Any disability among adults29.6%25.6–33.8
Hearing disability among adults9.2%8.1–10.2
Independent living disability among adults7.1%6.2–8.1
Mobility disability among adults14.0%12.0–16.2
Self-care disability among adults3.6%3.1–4.1
Vision disability among adults4.4%3.9–5.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults19.5%16.4–22.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.4%8.5–12.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.5%6.0–9.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.0%6.6–9.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.8%4.9–6.8
Loneliness among adults28.5%24.0–33.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.7%4.8–6.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate30.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578
Uninsured 18–645.5%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579
No HS diploma (25+)3.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578
Broadband subscription81.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)21.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578
Homeownership rate87.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578
Foreign-born population1.2%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579
Single-parent households44.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577
Population 65+15.7%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55321.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579
Median age39.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577
Median household income$62,917$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556
Median home value$91,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533
Median gross rent$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$850 ($610–$1,250) n=442
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth82.6 yr ± 2.1078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.1 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 2.10 years of 82.6, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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