ZIP code
98021
in Bothell, WashingtonPopulation 35,631
68.46/ 100
Ranked #897 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.8%)
Ranked #29 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 5.0%)
Ranked #29 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (top 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.
Median household income
$183,786
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
28 ppb
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.9 days/year
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.0%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
7.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.1%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
26.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
11.6%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 98021, one of several in Bothell, Washington comes out in the top 2.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (897th) and the top 5.0% of Washington (29th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: household income stands in the top 1.6% nationally, modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden is in the bottom 1.0% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 3.0% nationally, mobility disability rests in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and independent living disability lies in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Modeled stroke sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health registers in the bottom 2.7% nationally. By contrast, lead in tap water stands in the top 0.4% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 98072, 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 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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 ›
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 44.4; chronic-disease standing 95.3 (top 10%) — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,479 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
98011
Washingtonshares a border
Score 68.03
Closest healthier
98072
Washingtonshares a border
Score 70.55
Similar health profile
80124
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 69.19
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 | 21.1% | 19.6–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.4% | 24.5–28.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 20.9–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 32.3–36.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.5% | 23.8–29.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 2.0–2.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.9% | 67.4–72.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.6% | 70.4–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.9–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 64.8–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.6% | 69.5–73.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 71.4–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.7% | 30.1–35.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.4% | 12.3–14.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.7–22.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 62.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 29.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 39.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 12.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $183,786 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $967,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $2,655 | $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 | 83.1 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 83.1, 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