ZIP code
98229
in Bellingham, WashingtonPopulation 33,298
61.09/ 100
Ranked #4,071 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.7%)
Ranked #94 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #2 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (top 12.5%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
3.6 days/year
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Short sleep
28.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
27.5%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
8.0%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
97.4%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
269 units
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.6%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 98229, one of several in Bellingham, Washington ranks in the top 12.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,071st) and the top 16% of Washington (94th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and obesity stands in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and high blood pressure lands in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Transit sits in the top 7.1% nationally, modeled diabetes is in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the top 9.0% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled mobility disability registers in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Close by, ZIP 98262, about 3.4 miles away, ranks healthier 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 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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.7 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $90,945 predicts 79.7 years — 2.0 years above.
Ranked #947 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98225
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.66
Closest healthier
98262
Washingtonabout 3.4 mi away
Score 61.48
Similar health profile
05468
Vermont98% similar profile
Score 59.76
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 | 24.0% | 21.9–26.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.5% | 25.1–30.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 29.2% | 26.4–32.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.2% | 30.5–35.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.6% | 22.2–29.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.7% | 68.9–74.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.1% | 68.3–73.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 82.1–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 68.1–74.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.2% | 66.6–71.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 72.0–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.2% | 24.9–31.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.3–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.1% | 24.4–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 53.1% | 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 | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.4% | 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 | 69.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 52.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 39.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $90,945 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $633,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,670 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 81.7, 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