ZIP code
98295
in Sumas, WashingtonPopulation 3,279
54.26/ 100
Ranked #10,367 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #266 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #11 of 16 Bellingham, WA ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Crowded housing
19%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
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 ›High blood pressure
27.5%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.0%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.4%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.34 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Binge drinking
19.1%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32.8%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
Sumas, Washington (ZIP 98295) ranks in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,367th) and the top 46% of Washington (266th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled high blood pressure lands in the bottom 5.3% nationally, and obesity settles in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Modeled diabetes rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and pharmacy lands in the top 10.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 12.2% nationally. By contrast, crowded housing rests in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 9.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests in the top 11.7% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lands in the top 10.5% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 98247, 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 88%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
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
98247
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.64
Closest healthier
98264
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.65
Similar health profile
21727
Maryland98% similar profile
Score 54.07
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 | 23.9% | 21.6–26.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.5% | 24.9–30.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 30.1% | 27.1–33.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.8% | 30.0–35.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.5% | 23.8–31.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.4% | 7.7–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.6–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.0% | 66.8–72.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.9% | 65.7–71.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.8% | 80.7–84.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 64.5–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.5% | 58.6–64.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 68.6–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.1% | 16.7–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–14.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.1% | 14.7–19.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 27.6–34.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.7–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 26.2–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.3–12.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 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+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 19.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 35.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 11.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 37.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $98,965 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $456,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,376 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 80.0, 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