ZIP code
98498
in Lakewood, WashingtonPopulation 29,209
53.55/ 100
Ranked #11,297 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #292 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #131 of 166 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.9 days/year
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.6 mi
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS8thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 98498, one of several in Lakewood, Washington ranks in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,297th) and the bottom 50% of Washington (292nd).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and energy burden stands in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Park land lands in the top 12.9% nationally, transit sits in the top 13.2% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the bottom 13.9% nationally. Set against that, PFOS in drinking water settles at the national maximum, PFAS in drinking water resides at the national maximum, and modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 5.7% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 5.8% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Close by, ZIP 98388, 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 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
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 78.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $91,664 predicts 79.7 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,836 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
98388
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.34
Closest healthier
98467
Washingtonshares a border
Score 57.70
Similar health profile
98271
Washington98% similar profile
Score 53.90
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 | 28.0% | 26.1–29.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 32.9–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 10.0–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 23.5–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 35.3–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 33.9–39.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 9.2–12.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 8.0–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.7% | 70.5–74.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.9% | 69.6–74.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 82.2–85.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 63.5–69.0 |
| 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 | 74.0% | 69.8–77.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 14.2–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.3% | 18.2–22.2 |
| 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 | 18.6% | 17.0–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.4–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.2–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.5–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.9% | 30.6–35.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–14.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.8% | 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 | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $91,664 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $506,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,711 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 78.2, 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