ZIP code
98126
in Seattle, WashingtonPopulation 22,975
64.06/ 100
Ranked #2,416 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.6%)
Ranked #54 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 9.3%)
Ranked #53 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (top 32%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
745 units
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.7%
in the bottom 5.1% 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & 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
7.4%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.0%
in the bottom 1.1% 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 ›Diabetes
6.9%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.1 mi
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.5%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 98126, one of several in Seattle, Washington ranks in the top 7.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,416th) and the top 9.3% of Washington (54th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 2.5% nationally, and modeled obesity is in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Modeled mobility disability stands in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and energy burden settles in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled diabetes lies in the bottom 2.2% nationally, coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and hearing disability lands in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 1.7% nationally, modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 3.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 98116, 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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
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 4.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 95.8 (top 10%) — 91 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,958 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
98106
Washingtonshares a border
Score 62.17
Closest healthier
98116
Washingtonshares a border
Score 65.86
Similar health profile
55426
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 63.93
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 | 20.1% | 18.9–21.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.7% | 25.2–28.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.5–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.7–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 24.0–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 31.3–34.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.7% | 22.5–27.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.6% | 64.5–68.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.1% | 68.2–72.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 85.1–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 64.0–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.7% | 69.9–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 74.6–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 16.8–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 13.3% | 12.1–14.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.7% | 27.6–31.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.5% | 11.4–13.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.4–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.0% | 9.2–10.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.5–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.1% | 19.5–22.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 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+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 61.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 47.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 12.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $116,466 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $783,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,802 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.53 | 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 0.53 years of 80.0, 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