ZIP code
98042
in Kent, WashingtonPopulation 50,216
62.16/ 100
Ranked #3,425 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 10.7%)
Ranked #76 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 13.1%)
Ranked #69 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (top 42%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
86%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Obesity
24.6%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
453 units
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
8.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$127,552
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.1%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 98042, one of several in Kent, Washington comes out in the top 10.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,425th) and the top 13.1% of Washington (76th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled humid heat registers in the bottom 2.7% nationally, modeled obesity stands in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 5.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled mobility disability resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and household income rests in the top 7.6% nationally. Modeled diabetes lies in the bottom 4.6% nationally. By contrast, modeled pfas sits in the top 0.9% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 5.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk registers in the top 8.3% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 98010, 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 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
“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 33.3; chronic-disease standing 90.7 (top 10%) — 57 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,151 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
98010
Washingtonshares a border
Score 66.71
Closest healthier
98038
Washingtonshares a border
Score 64.86
Similar health profile
98043
Washington99% similar profile
Score 61.23
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 | 22.6% | 21.3–24.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.1% | 27.5–30.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.2–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.8–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 23.8–27.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 34.1–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.6% | 22.4–26.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.8–9.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.7% | 67.5–71.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.5% | 68.6–72.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.7–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 64.5–69.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 67.5–71.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 72.8–79.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 15.9–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 15.3% | 13.9–16.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 28.2–32.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 13.1–15.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 15.1–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 10.6–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.6–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.8% | 22.2–25.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.8% | 8.1–9.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–3.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 19.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 50.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 39.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $127,552 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $658,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $2,118 | $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 | 81.5 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 81.5, 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