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ZIP code

69218

in Merriman, NebraskaPopulation 429

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

52.35/ 100

Ranked #12,979 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)

Ranked #382 of 566 Nebraska ZIPs (bottom 33%)

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

Broad coverage across 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.

Walkability

0.39 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

27%

in the bottom 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST14th
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

103 mi

in the top 3.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a nursing home

14 mi

in the top 6.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US94th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

2.6%

in the bottom 8.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US8th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility

10.6 mi

in the top 13.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.

Full methodology ›

Dry extreme heat

22.7 days/year

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US80th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

41.7%

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US80th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

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 ›

Households without a vehicle

8.1%

in the top 21% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US79th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with no vehicle available.

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, Merriman, Nebraska (ZIP 69218) places in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,979th) and the bottom 33% of Nebraska (382nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and loneliness resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the top 3.5% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Poverty stands in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 11.3% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 13.1% nationally. On the other side, walkability lies in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and distance to a nursing home rests in the top 6.1% nationally.

For readers new to these terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 69219, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 96%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 96%

8%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 46%

11%

Disability

healthier than 49%

7%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 56%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 33%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 31%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 9%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

in the top 0.00%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 71%

8%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 94%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 46%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 11%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 20%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 33%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 29%

11%

Disability

healthier than 21%

7%

“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 adults31.9%28.4–35.6
High blood pressure among adults40.4%36.1–44.9
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.9%9.9–12.0
Current asthma among adults9.5%8.3–10.7
Coronary heart disease among adults8.6%7.6–9.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.0%7.6–10.3
Depression among adults16.7%14.0–19.6
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.6%12.5–16.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.3%33.9–43.0
Obesity among adults42.3%34.9–50.2
Stroke among adults4.4%3.8–4.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.5%10.1–15.3
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 pressure82.3%79.4–84.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.7%74.2–80.9
Cholesterol screening among adults86.8%85.1–88.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years61.8%56.0–67.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults60.7%57.0–64.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years72.6%64.1–79.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.4%14.5–20.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.4%13.6–19.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults28.9%24.0–34.0
Short sleep duration among adults31.6%25.5–38.2
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.9%16.1–21.9
Frequent mental distress among adults13.3%11.5–15.0
Frequent physical distress among adults14.4%12.5–16.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults11.8%10.2–13.6
Any disability among adults31.7%27.3–36.2
Hearing disability among adults9.8%8.6–10.9
Independent living disability among adults7.8%6.8–8.9
Mobility disability among adults16.3%13.8–18.8
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.8–4.9
Vision disability among adults5.2%4.6–6.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.2%17.2–23.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.1%10.0–14.4
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults9.4%7.7–11.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.5%7.2–10.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.7–7.5
Loneliness among adults27.0%22.6–31.8
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.6–7.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NE median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate2.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.0% (2.6–16.7%) n=578
Uninsured 18–644.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.4% (1.6–20.4%) n=579
No HS diploma (25+)1.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.2% (1.5–11.9%) n=578
Bachelor's or higher (25+)19.7%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 vehicle8.1%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.1% (0.0–7.6%) n=578
Broadband subscription80.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.6% (75.9–96.3%) n=578
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)11.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.5% (7.6–30.4%) n=578
Homeownership rate73.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.5% (61.0–93.2%) n=578
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.6%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=578
Foreign-born population0.7%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.1% (0.0–8.3%) n=579
Single-parent households61.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.2% (42.6–77.1%) n=577
Population 65+31.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55321.2% (11.4–34.7%) n=579
Median age48.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.0–56.3) n=577
Median household income$78,672$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,386 ($53,469–$103,625) n=556
Median home value$106,300$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 birth78.1 yr ± 1.2178.9 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 1.21 years of 78.1, 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