ZIP code
98406
in Tacoma, WashingtonPopulation 24,202
59.90/ 100
Ranked #4,933 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 15%)
Ranked #117 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #85 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
3 days/year
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & 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 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
464 units
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.5%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.44 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.8 mi
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, ZIP 98406, one of several in Tacoma, Washington lands in the top 15% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,933rd) and the top 20% of Washington (117th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 4.9% nationally, and walkability resides in the top 5.8% nationally. Transit registers in the top 7.3% nationally, modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 4.4% nationally, and outpatient stands in the top 9.9% nationally. Civic lies in the top 10.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 3.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 10.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 98335, 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. 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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
“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
98335
Washingtonshares a border
Score 62.13
Closest healthier
98403
Washingtonshares a border
Score 63.16
Similar health profile
98686
Washington98% similar profile
Score 58.29
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 | 27.5% | 25.6–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 30.3–34.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.4–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 24.3–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 34.2–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.3% | 31.1–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 70.8–75.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 70.5–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 84.3–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.3% | 67.7–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.3% | 69.2–73.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 71.4–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 31.2–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 15.0–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 26.5–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 49.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 19.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $104,264 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $638,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 79.3, 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