ZIP code
98264
in Lynden, WashingtonPopulation 23,123
54.65/ 100
Ranked #9,893 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #252 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #9 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (bottom 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.
Nitrate in drinking water
45.4%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
26.9%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
60.7%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
10.8 days/year
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST53rdUS8thDefinition & 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 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.9%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST40thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
Lynden, Washington (ZIP 98264), by its overall standing, sits in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,893rd) and the top 43% of Washington (252nd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled obesity rests in the bottom 8.9% nationally, humid heat lies in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and short sleep sits in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Transit settles in the top 10.5% nationally, modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and fatal road crashes stands in the bottom 12.5% nationally. By contrast, modeled nitrate lands in the top 1.0% nationally, and disaster risk is in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled pfas resides in the top 7.7% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 8.4% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, 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. 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 98226, 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 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
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 ›
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 21.7; chronic-disease standing 80.1 — 58 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,256 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
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
98230
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.02
Similar health profile
97330
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 57.55
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 | 26.3% | 24.0–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.1% | 27.5–32.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 28.9% | 26.2–31.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.6% | 31.9–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.9% | 23.5–30.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.3% | 7.6–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.8–10.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.2% | 70.4–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.0% | 68.1–73.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 82.1–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 63.3–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.1% | 62.2–67.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.6% | 69.9–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 15.1–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.9% | 26.4–33.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.9–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.4–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.5–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.0% | 28.1–33.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 44.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 35.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $103,638 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $609,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,688 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 years of 80.2, 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