ZIP code
98256
in Index, WashingtonPopulation 368
54.02/ 100
Ranked #10,669 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #273 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #126 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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.
Park land
92.1%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
87.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.6 days/year
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
19 mi
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.4%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.6%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
19.1 mi
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
18.6 mi
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Index, Washington (ZIP 98256) stands in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,669th) and the top 47% of Washington (273rd).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: park land stands in the top 0.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and pfas stands in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 2.2% nationally, walkability stands in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and distance to a nursing home sits in the top 3.7% nationally. Unemployment resides in the top 4.2% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 6.1% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. ZIP 98224, 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 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
98288
Washingtonshares a border
Score 64.12
Similar health profile
84513
Utah96% similar profile
Score 56.46
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% | 27.9–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 32.2–36.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.3–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.3% | 11.2–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 27.5% | 25.3–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 35.9–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.0% | 29.9–36.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.8% | 8.3–11.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.3–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.5% | 72.2–76.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.5% | 71.2–75.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.6–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 65.6–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.2% | 64.0–68.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.0% | 68.8–77.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.8% | 9.9–13.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.0% | 16.5–21.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 30.5–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 28.1–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 24.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 60.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 26.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 45.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $94,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $430,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 1.56 | 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 1.56 years of 77.8, 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