ZIP code
98003
in Federal Way, WashingtonPopulation 51,619
55.87/ 100
Ranked #8,417 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #204 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #107 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
2,611 units
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
31.9%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.5 days/year
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
48.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
8.4%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.1%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 98003, one of several in Federal Way, Washington, on the composite measure, lands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,417th) and the top 35% of Washington (204th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 0.2% nationally, dental providers registers in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Working the other way, modeled transportation noise settles in the top 1.1% nationally, and expected annual loss stands in the top 1.7% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled disaster risk rests in the top 5.0% nationally. Crowded housing sits in the top 6.2% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 98001, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area.
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 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.4%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 99%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.9 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 81.6 — 74 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,708 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98001
Washingtonshares a border
Score 58.90
Closest healthier
98023
Washingtonshares a border
Score 60.57
Similar health profile
98836
Washington97% similar profile
Score 55.79
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 | 23.0% | 21.8–24.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 30.7–34.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.2–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 10.2–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 22.8–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 9.7–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 34.2–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.1% | 25.8–30.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 9.2–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.9–13.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.1% | 68.2–72.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.4% | 68.5–72.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.0% | 81.8–84.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 60.2–64.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.4% | 59.3–63.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 71.1–77.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 13.8–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 10.0–12.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.0% | 19.3–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 31.3–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 18.4–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 16.5–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 12.4–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 14.3–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 27.3–30.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.6–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.8–12.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.3–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 48.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 35.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 42.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $75,319 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $476,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,723 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,416 ($840–$2,197) n=476 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.7 yr ± 0.51 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.2 yr (77.3–83.1) n=584 |
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 0.51 years of 78.7, 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