ZIP code
98273
in Mount Vernon, WashingtonPopulation 30,001
55.06/ 100
Ranked #9,376 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #230 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #7 of 13 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
980 units
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
3.6 days/year
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS2ndDefinition & 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 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.0%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.13 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32.6%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
13.3%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 98273, one of several in Mount Vernon, Washington lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,376th) and the top 40% of Washington (230th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 2.2% nationally. Mental-health providers is in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 8.1% nationally. On the other side, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 2.6% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum. Crowded housing lands in the top 6.8% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 98221, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98221
Washingtonshares a border
Score 61.98
Closest healthier
98232
Washingtonshares a border
Score 59.66
Similar health profile
59725
Montana98% similar profile
Score 52.98
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 | 27.2% | 24.8–29.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.1% | 28.2–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 22.8–28.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.6% | 29.6–35.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.2% | 29.7–38.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.7–14.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.3% | 11.6–14.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.7% | 68.7–74.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.9% | 65.5–72.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.8% | 80.0–83.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 60.4–68.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.2% | 58.1–64.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.2% | 68.9–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.3% | 18.5–24.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 27.8–36.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 14.1–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 28.3–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 46.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $76,717 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $492,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,287 | $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 | 79.9 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 79.9, 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