ZIP code
98122
in Seattle, WashingtonPopulation 43,234
66.91/ 100
Ranked #1,309 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.1%)
Ranked #39 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 6.8%)
Ranked #38 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (top 23%)
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.
High blood pressure
19.1%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
25.7%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
2.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
4.5%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
4.5%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.0%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,154 units
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Obesity
21.9%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Stroke
1.4%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 98122, one of several in Seattle, Washington ranks in the top 4.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,309th) and the top 6.8% of Washington (39th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled high blood pressure lies in the bottom 1.2% nationally, and high cholesterol resides in the bottom 1.4% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lands in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and diabetes registers in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled mobility disability sits in the bottom 0.8% nationally, modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 1.1% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and stroke settles in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Against that, modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 0.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 98039, 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
in the top 0.9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Disability
in the top 0.6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
“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
4 of our published findings list 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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $106,886 predicts 80.3 years — 1.4 years below.
Ranked #1,735 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.9 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.9 years — 3.0 years below them.
Ranked #2,370 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 6.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 99.2 (top 1%) — 93 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #18,034 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.9 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98039
Washingtonshares a border
Score 73.82
Closest healthier
98040
Washingtonshares a border
Score 71.97
Similar health profile
80203
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 66.03
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 | 12.7% | 11.8–13.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 19.1% | 17.9–20.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.3–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.4% | 24.6–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 25.7% | 24.3–27.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 21.9% | 19.9–24.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.4% | 1.3–1.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.9–6.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 56.4% | 54.4–58.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 65.0% | 62.8–67.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.2% | 79.6–82.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 63.4–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.4% | 68.6–72.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 75.8–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.4% | 19.6–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 27.4–31.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 9.9% | 9.0–10.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 15.3–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.8–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.7–19.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.7% | 1.6–1.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 71.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 28.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 28.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 60.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 8.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 32.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $106,886 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $957,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,991 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 78.9, 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