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ZIP code

98421

in Tacoma, WashingtonPopulation 424

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

55.60/ 100

Ranked #8,744 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)

Ranked #215 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 37%)

Ranked #110 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 34%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Loud transportation noise

8.6%

in the top 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

88.5%

in the top 0.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

50.9%

in the bottom 2.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

27.1%

in the bottom 1.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 1.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Coronary heart disease

2.7%

in the bottom 1.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

22.2%

in the top 1.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Homeownership rate

5.3%

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST2nd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

22.3%

in the bottom 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

1.5%

in the bottom 1.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

The read

ZIP 98421, one of several in Tacoma, Washington, by its composite score, sits in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,744th) and the top 37% of Washington (215th).

continue reading

The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure sits in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and stroke lies in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 0.4% nationally, pfas resides in the top 0.6% nationally, and colon screening is in the bottom 2.4% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled binge drinking stands in the top 1.7% nationally, and homeownership registers in the bottom 1.2% nationally.

Next to the surrounding area, loud transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 98422, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 98%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 85%

8%

Disability

healthier than 97%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 80%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 52%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 28%

16%

Environmental Hazard

in the bottom 0.9%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 2%

13%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 95%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 96%

8%

Disability

healthier than 90%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 69%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

in the bottom 1.0%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 3%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 9%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 18%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 90%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 93%

8%

Disability

healthier than 77%

7%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 55%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 1%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 2%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 7%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 18%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults12.7%11.6–13.9
High blood pressure among adults22.3%20.4–24.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults3.2%2.9–3.5
Current asthma among adults7.8%6.9–8.5
Coronary heart disease among adults2.7%2.3–3.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults2.2%1.9–2.5
Depression among adults19.6%17.7–21.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults7.0%6.1–8.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened27.1%25.0–29.0
Obesity among adults35.4%31.9–38.7
Stroke among adults1.5%1.3–1.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.5%16.9–22.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years12.5%9.4–16.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure54.2%51.2–56.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults62.7%59.7–65.4
Cholesterol screening among adults79.0%76.1–81.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years50.9%48.1–53.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults52.7%50.2–55.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years67.5%62.6–71.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults22.2%19.9–24.4
Current cigarette smoking among adults7.4%5.9–9.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults14.8%12.2–17.6
Short sleep duration among adults40.9%37.9–43.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults13.3%11.3–15.5
Frequent mental distress among adults14.7%12.9–16.5
Frequent physical distress among adults9.4%8.2–10.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.7%10.7–14.8
Any disability among adults22.9%20.0–26.0
Hearing disability among adults4.0%3.5–4.5
Independent living disability among adults4.6%3.9–5.4
Mobility disability among adults5.9%5.1–6.8
Self-care disability among adults2.1%1.8–2.4
Vision disability among adults3.4%2.9–4.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate39.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583
Uninsured 18–644.5%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582
No HS diploma (25+)0.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5057.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588
Bachelor's or higher (25+)15.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50527.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584
Households without a vehicle12.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580
Broadband subscription73.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32292.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)44.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32228.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580
Homeownership rate5.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32275.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580
Crowded housing (>1 per room)16.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3222.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580
Foreign-born population26.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5536.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588
Single-parent households0.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08754.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574
Population 65+2.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55318.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588
Median age33.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584
Median household income$26,307$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547
Median home value—$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542
Median gross rent$1,083$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,416 ($840–$2,197) n=476
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled.
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