ZIP code
98446
in Tacoma, WashingtonPopulation 14,634
52.06/ 100
Ranked #13,376 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #344 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #143 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 13.9%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
78.3%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.2 days/year
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & 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
4.7%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
97.2%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 98446, one of several in Tacoma, Washington sits in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,376th) and the bottom 41% of Washington (344th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 2.5% nationally, modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription lands in the top 9.7% nationally. Lithium in drinking water resides in the bottom 11.3% nationally, subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 13.4% nationally, and mental-health providers settles in the top 13.6% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas stands in the top 2.3% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled disaster risk rests in the top 12.3% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 13.8% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 98371, just across the boundary, 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 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 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
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
98371
Washingtonshares a border
Score 52.87
Closest healthier
98373
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.83
Similar health profile
80903
Colorado99% similar profile
Score 53.68
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 | 26.9% | 25.2–28.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 30.8–34.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.3–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.7% | 25.4–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 33.7–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 34.2–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.6–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.9–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.6% | 68.2–72.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.0% | 67.6–72.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.2% | 80.5–83.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 62.9–68.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.8% | 62.5–67.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 67.6–76.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.0% | 18.0–22.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 34.7–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.8–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.6–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.4–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.4–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.9% | 30.5–35.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.8–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 57.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 13.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 36.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $101,938 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $487,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,991 | $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 | 79.9 yr ± 1.25 | 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 1.25 years of 79.9, 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