ZIP code
98251
in Gold Bar, WashingtonPopulation 4,907
51.93/ 100
Ranked #13,540 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #348 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #144 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 13.3%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
51.4%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
46.1%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
79.8%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
10.4 days/year
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST51stUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
12 mi
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Gold Bar, Washington (ZIP 98251) ranks in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,540th) and the bottom 40% of Washington (348th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: park land lies in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover lands in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk is in the top 1.6% nationally, housing-cost burden settles in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 7.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers in the top 7.9% nationally, walkability rests in the bottom 8.7% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 17% nationally. Unemployment lies in the top 18% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Close by, ZIP 98224, just across the boundary, 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 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 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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
98224
Washingtonshares a border
Score 63.36
Closest healthier
98252
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.03
Similar health profile
98323
Washington97% similar profile
Score 54.44
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 | 27.1% | 25.2–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.8% | 29.7–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.7–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.3–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 28.6% | 26.3–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 34.3–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 31.1–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 9.0–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.0% | 68.4–73.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.1% | 68.7–73.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.7–85.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.2% | 62.4–68.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.3% | 61.9–66.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.8% | 67.3–75.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–21.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 32.2–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.5–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.7–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.0% | 27.2–32.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 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) | 46.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 52.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 12.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $83,891 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $448,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,791 | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 1.15 | 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 1.15 years of 79.3, 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