ZIP code
98550
in Hoquiam, WashingtonPopulation 12,316
44.45/ 100
Ranked #22,967 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #524 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 9.9%)
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
4.2%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.4 days/year
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
19.5 mi
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.26 per 1,000 residents
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Short sleep
40%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$55,040
in the bottom 21% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS21stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
2.0%
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS25thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›The read
Hoquiam, Washington (ZIP 98550), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 28% nationally (22,967th) and the bottom 9.9% of Washington (524th).
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled disaster risk sits in the top 2.2% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 5.9% nationally. Walkability resides in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Better still, modeled pfas sits in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and humid heat stands in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover resides in the top 13.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 98520, 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
in the top 0.8%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 76.2 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.8 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,044 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 99.2 (top 1%); chronic-disease standing 30.6 — 69 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,149 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98520
Washingtonshares a border
Score 45.81
Closest healthier
98535
Washingtonshares a border
Score 50.75
Similar health profile
24088
Virginia96% similar profile
Score 46.38
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 | 31.6% | 28.7–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.2% | 35.7–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 28.3% | 24.9–31.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.9–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.1% | 32.7–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.5–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.9% | 8.6–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.4% | 71.4–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.0% | 66.2–73.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.5% | 80.5–84.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.4% | 59.9–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 53.0–59.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.4% | 64.5–77.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.8–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.7% | 21.2–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 35.2–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.4–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.6–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.8% | 33.0–40.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 47.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 22.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $55,040 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $238,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 76.2, 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