ZIP code
98503
in Lacey, WashingtonPopulation 41,656
54.76/ 100
Ranked #9,748 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #245 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #7 of 12 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA ZIPs (bottom 42%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
535 units
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
10.4 days/year
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
5.7 ppb
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
US92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 98503, one of several in Lacey, Washington ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,748th) and the top 42% of Washington (245th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 4.1% nationally, and transit lands in the top 5.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and walkability rests in the top 11.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 10.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 2.4% nationally, lead in tap water settles in the top 8.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden rests in the top 12.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 98501, 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, 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 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
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 77.9 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $89,002 predicts 79.6 years — 1.8 years below.
Ranked #2,203 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
98501
Washingtonshares a border
Score 59.51
Closest healthier
98513
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.68
Similar health profile
97116
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 53.87
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 | 28.4% | 26.4–30.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 32.1–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 8.0–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 24.9–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 33.4–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.4% | 28.0–35.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.3–13.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.3% | 69.0–73.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.6% | 65.7–71.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.2% | 80.5–83.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 64.8–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.3% | 62.5–67.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.8% | 68.6–78.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–21.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 32.0–38.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 16.2–20.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.2–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.7–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.8–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 28.7–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 52.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 21.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 41.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $89,002 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $438,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,746 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.42 | 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 0.42 years of 77.9, 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