ZIP code
98230
in Blaine, WashingtonPopulation 18,744
55.02/ 100
Ranked #9,419 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #232 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #7 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (top 44%)
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
2.2 days/year
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.4%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Blaine, Washington (ZIP 98230) comes out in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,419th) and the top 40% of Washington (232nd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 1.3% nationally, short sleep lands in the bottom 7.1% nationally, and obesity is in the bottom 11.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Transit rests in the top 12.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 7.5% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk registers in the top 11.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 14.8% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 98240, 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 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Disability
healthier than 27%
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
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 82.4 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $86,623 predicts 79.5 years — 2.9 years above.
Ranked #468 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
98240
Washingtonshares a border
Score 58.83
Closest healthier
98248
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.83
Similar health profile
84657
Utah97% similar profile
Score 58.32
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 | 29.9% | 27.5–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 31.2–36.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 25.8–31.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 34.8–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.9% | 24.4–31.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.6% | 7.9–11.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.4–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.1% | 73.2–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.8% | 71.0–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.6–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.9% | 67.4–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.4% | 62.7–68.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 67.6–78.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–21.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.4% | 25.9–32.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–20.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.2–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.6% | 28.7–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| 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 | 9.4% | 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+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 56.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 26.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 45.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $86,623 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $499,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,365 | $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 | 82.4 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 82.4, 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