ZIP code
69138
in Gothenburg, NebraskaPopulation 4,316
55.86/ 100
Ranked #8,432 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #192 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (top 34%)
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.
Distance to a community health center
58 mi
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.69 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Grocery access
0.23 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
72 mi
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.1%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
Gothenburg, Nebraska (ZIP 69138), in overall standing, comes out in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,432nd) and the top 34% of Nebraska (192nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: pharmacy resides in the top 2.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Grocery stands in the top 5.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site resides in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and childcare stands in the top 12.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a community health center sits in the top 0.7% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk resides in the top 8.4% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 69170, about 14 miles away.
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 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
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
68825
Nebraskashares a border
Score 53.69
Closest healthier
69170
Nebraskaabout 14 mi away
Score 56.05
Similar health profile
68458
Nebraska98% similar profile
Score 56.43
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 | 27.7% | 24.6–30.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 32.4–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.0% | 14.5–19.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 30.1–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 31.6–44.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.3–15.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 6.8–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.9% | 78.3–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.1% | 72.5–79.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.2% | 58.6–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.9% | 60.6–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 67.2–80.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 15.6–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.3–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 22.5–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 24.9–35.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–19.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–14.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 24.3–32.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.3–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.9% | 16.7–23.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.4–13.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 5.7–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.0% | 24.5–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NE median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.4% (12.1–39.7%) n=578 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.4% (0.0–5.8%) n=579 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 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 | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579 |
| Single-parent households | 49.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 21.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579 |
| Median age | 42.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577 |
| Median household income | $77,604 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556 |
| Median home value | $199,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $168,400 ($90,000–$306,740) n=533 |
| Median gross rent | $921 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 1.14 | 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 1.14 years of 78.2, 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