ZIP code
98248
in Ferndale, WashingtonPopulation 28,498
55.83/ 100
Ranked #8,471 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #207 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #6 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (top 38%)
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
1.5 days/year
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
6.5%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS94thDefinition & 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
27.2%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
28.6%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
56.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.9%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Ferndale, Washington (ZIP 98248) stands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,471st) and the top 36% of Washington (207th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and obesity lands in the bottom 9.6% nationally. Modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and high blood pressure rests in the bottom 7.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled nitrate settles in the top 3.8% nationally, disaster risk rests in the top 4.1% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 6.4% nationally. Crowded housing settles in the top 9.0% nationally, and modeled pfas rests in the top 9.8% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 98226, 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 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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
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 ›
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
98240
Washingtonshares a border
Score 58.83
Similar health profile
27244
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 57.66
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 | 24.8% | 22.7–27.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.6% | 26.1–31.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.8–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 29.3% | 26.6–32.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.8–36.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.2% | 23.8–30.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 7.0–10.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 7.1–9.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.5% | 68.6–74.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.4% | 67.4–73.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.9–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 64.6–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 64.1–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 70.1–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 26.2–33.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.2–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.3–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 26.3–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 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) | 32.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $91,060 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $589,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,469 | $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 ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 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