ZIP code
97862
in Milton Freewater, OregonPopulation 12,313
42.32/ 100
Ranked #24,960 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #336 of 407 Oregon ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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 an emergency room
22.7 mi
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
4.7%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
9.7 µg/L
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
24.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.30%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.2%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.2%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
28.1%
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
18.9%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Milton Freewater, Oregon (ZIP 97862) lands in the bottom 22% nationally (24,960th) and the bottom 17% of Oregon (336th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Transit rests in the top 10.7% nationally, and park land is in the top 10.8% nationally. On the other hand, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 4.0% nationally, modeled nitrate settles in the top 4.3% nationally, and modeled tooth loss lies in the top 7.6% nationally. Modeled fine-particle resides in the top 6.6% nationally, arsenic lands in the top 9.0% nationally, and uninsured registers in the top 8.8% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 97813, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Disability
healthier than 9%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.1 ± 1.3 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.2 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,425 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
97813
Oregonshares a border
Score 54.00
Closest healthier
97835
Oregonshares a border
Score 53.26
Similar health profile
98841
Washington97% similar profile
Score 41.23
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 | 32.0% | 28.8–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 32.9–40.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 31.4–39.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 33.1–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.8% | 20.6–29.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.2% | 13.9–18.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.1% | 71.0–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.6% | 69.8–77.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.0% | 78.8–83.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.4% | 55.1–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 49.6–57.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 66.7–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 14.2–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 25.1–33.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 27.7–39.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.1% | 25.0–31.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.0–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.0% | 34.8–43.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.4% | 17.1–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.7% (4.7–26.4%) n=411 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.9% (0.9–19.7%) n=411 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (1.2–16.6%) n=412 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.7% (11.1–49.6%) n=412 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–10.0%) n=409 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.3% (0.0–10.0%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 90.4% (76.7–96.9%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 29.9% (14.6–42.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.5% (52.8–90.2%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.1% (0.0–6.7%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.0% (0.0–13.0%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 47.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.5% (43.5–77.1%) n=407 |
| Population 65+ | 21.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.5% (12.7–42.1%) n=412 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.1 yr (36.3–62.2) n=410 |
| Median household income | $54,786 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,301 ($49,007–$109,558) n=378 |
| Median home value | $274,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $413,900 ($238,120–$653,360) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $902 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,252 ($807–$1,772) n=327 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.1 yr ± 0.68 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.1 yr (76.4–82.0) n=409 |
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 0.68 years of 77.1, 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