ZIP code
98542
in Ethel, WashingtonPopulation 625
44.24/ 100
Ranked #23,184 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #531 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 8.7%)
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.
Distance to a nursing home
13.9 mi
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Obesity
41.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Stroke
4.9%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
41.9%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$52,963
in the bottom 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
5.3%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
18.6%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
41.3%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
14.9%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Ethel, Washington (ZIP 98542) ranks in the bottom 28% nationally (23,184th) and the bottom 8.7% of Washington (531st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures split the difference for this area: unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 11.8% nationally. Crowded housing is at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the bottom 16% nationally. Against that, distance to a nursing home settles in the top 6.2% nationally, walkability lies in the bottom 7.0% nationally, and modeled mammography resides in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 13.1% nationally, and modeled hearing disability registers in the top 15% nationally.
In plainer terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 98532, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 99%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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
98532
Washingtonshares a border
Score 51.37
Closest healthier
98570
Washingtonshares a border
Score 47.48
Similar health profile
97347
Oregon96% similar profile
Score 43.61
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 | 35.9% | 32.7–39.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.3% | 37.7–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.1–11.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.9% | 23.6–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.9% | 38.2–45.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 35.8–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.7% | 10.5–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 7.5–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 73.9–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.8% | 67.4–74.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.9% | 81.7–85.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 62.6–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.1% | 53.7–60.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.4% | 62.8–75.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 12.0–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.0–20.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.6% | 21.6–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 32.8–42.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 20.7–27.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.1–20.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.3% | 32.8–41.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 15.9–21.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 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 | 76.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 69.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 25.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $52,963 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $372,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 75.9 yr ± 1.77 | 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 1.77 years of 75.9, 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