ZIP code
98178
in Seattle, WashingtonPopulation 26,748
60.66/ 100
Ranked #4,350 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.6%)
Ranked #98 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #76 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (top 46%)
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
777 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.7 days/year
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
16.2%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Obesity
25.1%
in the bottom 5.7% 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.9% 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.4 mi
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
42.6%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.0%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.8%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 98178, one of several in Seattle, Washington lands in the top 13.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,350th) and the top 17% of Washington (98th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and hearing disability lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally. On the other side, modeled transportation noise lands in the top 3.7% nationally, expected annual loss sits in the top 3.9% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden is in the top 4.1% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 5.0% nationally, housing-cost burden resides in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 8.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 98040, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
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 8.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 88.9 — 80 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,206 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
98040
Washingtonshares a border
Score 71.97
Closest healthier
98056
Washingtonshares a border
Score 63.26
Similar health profile
80232
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 59.09
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 | 21.3% | 20.0–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 30.4–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.8% | 5.4–6.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.6–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 20.4–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 34.5–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.1% | 23.0–27.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.9–11.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.0% | 69.0–72.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.7% | 69.8–73.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.8–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 60.1–64.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 61.6–65.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 72.6–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 12.9–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.9% | 17.2–20.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 31.7–36.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.1% | 15.8–18.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.7–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.7–12.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.9–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.2% | 23.5–27.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 30.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 45.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 39.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $99,505 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $660,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,869 | $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 | 80.1 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 80.1, 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