ZIP code
98146
in Burien, WashingtonPopulation 28,573
60.12/ 100
Ranked #4,772 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.9%)
Ranked #113 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #84 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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
775 units
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
25.6%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
9.0%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
8.4 days/year
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST38thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
3.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Mobility disability
9.8%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 98146, one of several in Burien, Washington stands in the top 14.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,772nd) and the top 19% of Washington (113th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled obesity sits in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 5.6% nationally, and walkability stands in the top 8.4% nationally. Transit sits in the top 9.9% nationally, and modeled mobility disability resides in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Working the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 3.6% nationally, modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 3.8% nationally, and crowded housing resides in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled disaster risk stands in the top 9.6% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 98106, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
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 26.8; chronic-disease standing 90.0 (top 10%) — 63 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,724 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
98126
Washingtonshares a border
Score 64.06
Similar health profile
80525
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 61.58
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 | 21.8% | 20.5–23.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.9% | 28.3–31.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.3–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.5–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 22.4–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.2% | 8.5–10.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 34.2–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.6% | 23.3–28.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.2% | 67.1–71.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.2% | 68.3–72.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 83.6–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.1% | 60.7–65.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 62.6–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.3% | 71.8–78.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 14.7–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.9% | 16.3–19.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 29.6–34.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 15.4–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.9–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 11.1–13.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 12.2–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.3% | 23.6–27.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 46.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $102,520 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $679,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,818 | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 79.1, 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