ZIP code
98225
in Bellingham, WashingtonPopulation 50,216
54.66/ 100
Ranked #9,882 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #251 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #8 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
737 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
24.5%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
29.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Transit access
6.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
47.1%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›The read
ZIP 98225, one of several in Bellingham, Washington, on the composite measure, lands in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,882nd) and the top 43% of Washington (251st).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: subsidized affordable housing is in the top 2.5% nationally, modeled high blood pressure rests in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Mental-health providers registers in the top 3.5% nationally, transit lands in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled diabetes resides in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Physicians lies in the top 5.1% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, and modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 2.5% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the top 4.3% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 98226, 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 Bellingham, 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
“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
2 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.4 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $63,941 predicts 78.3 years — 1.1 years above.
Ranked #1,434 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 79.4 ± 1.0 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.7 years — 2.3 years below them.
Ranked #1,798 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98226
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.63
Closest healthier
98229
Washingtonshares a border
Score 61.09
Similar health profile
97361
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 51.60
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 | 20.3% | 18.5–22.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.5% | 22.4–26.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 32.8% | 29.7–35.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.3% | 26.9–31.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.2% | 22.8–29.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.8–11.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.5% | 63.9–68.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 67.7% | 64.4–70.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 75.8% | 73.5–78.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 65.2–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 59.4–65.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.9% | 68.1–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.0% | 16.5–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.5% | 14.4–19.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 26.6–33.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.1% | 19.0–23.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 28.2–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 40.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 55.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 31.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $63,941 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $631,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,523 | $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 | 79.4 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 79.4, 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