ZIP code
98281
in Point Roberts, WashingtonPopulation 1,288
59.38/ 100
Ranked #5,295 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #127 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #3 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (top 19%)
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.
Elder-services access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
28.6 mi
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Short sleep
27.4%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
4.0%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.4%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.4%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
21.4 mi
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
12.3 mi
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
14.3 mi
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Point Roberts, Washington (ZIP 98281) ranks in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,295th) and the top 22% of Washington (127th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: elder services rests in the top 1.1% nationally, and outpatient stands in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and tooth loss lands in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Modeled obesity sits in the bottom 8.0% nationally, modeled colon screening is in the top 4.0% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 8.6% nationally. On the other side, distance to an emergency room resides in the top 2.2% nationally, distance to a community health center registers in the top 7.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home rests in the top 7.7% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Close by, ZIP 98297, about 17 miles away, 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 Bellingham, 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 71%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
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
98230
Washingtonabout 9.2 mi away
Score 55.02
Closest healthier
98297
Washingtonabout 17 mi away
Score 59.49
Similar health profile
04662
Maine94% similar profile
Score 62.93
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 | 33.6% | 30.5–36.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.4% | 34.0–40.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.3–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 23.4–28.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.4% | 38.3–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.4% | 22.9–30.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.0% | 3.2–4.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.3% | 4.1–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 76.8–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 75.3–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.6–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.4% | 71.1–77.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.4% | 65.7–71.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 72.2–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 7.1–11.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.7% | 13.6–20.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.4% | 24.2–30.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.3% | 13.6–19.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 11.9–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 9.6–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.4–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.5–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.3–16.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 42.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 78.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 31.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 58.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $78,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $483,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,095 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 1.38 | 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 1.38 years of 79.0, 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