ZIP code
98321
in Buckley, WashingtonPopulation 18,150
53.40/ 100
Ranked #11,496 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #297 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #134 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.1% 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
5.4 days/year
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$127,411
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
1.9%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, Buckley, Washington (ZIP 98321) comes out in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,496th) and the bottom 49% of Washington (297th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled humid heat registers in the bottom 3.3% nationally, household income stands in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled energy burden lands in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Homeownership is in the top 16% nationally, modeled tooth loss resides in the bottom 14.6% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 18% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 20% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk sits in the top 2.1% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 7.9% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 15% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 98022, 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.7 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $127,411 predicts 81.0 years — 3.4 years below.
Ranked #4,552 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98022
Washingtonshares a border
Score 60.48
Closest healthier
98092
Washingtonshares a border
Score 60.66
Similar health profile
98597
Washington97% similar profile
Score 52.58
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 | 28.7% | 26.7–30.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.5% | 31.3–35.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 28.7% | 26.3–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.7–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.6% | 34.3–40.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 7.0–9.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.2% | 68.7–73.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.8% | 68.5–73.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 82.5–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 63.8–69.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.7% | 64.5–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 68.6–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 33.3–38.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 15.7–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 17.2–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 13.3–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.6–17.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 29.3–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.7% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 54.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 15.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $127,411 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $571,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,760 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 77.7, 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