ZIP code
98579
in Rochester, WashingtonPopulation 14,048
50.56/ 100
Ranked #15,469 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #390 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #11 of 12 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA ZIPs (bottom 8.4%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
10.6 days/year
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST52ndUS8thDefinition & 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
20 per million
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Rochester, Washington (ZIP 98579), on the composite measure, lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,469th) and the bottom 33% of Washington (390th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled humid heat is in the bottom 7.6% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 8.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 14.9% nationally, radon lands in the bottom 27% nationally, and tree cover resides in the top 24% nationally. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 15% nationally. Recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband stands in the bottom 19% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 23% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 98512, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.06%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $99,411 predicts 80.1 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,427 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
98512
Washingtonshares a border
Score 57.14
Closest healthier
98532
Washingtonshares a border
Score 51.37
Similar health profile
97051
Oregon97% similar profile
Score 50.18
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 | 31.4% | 29.2–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.0% | 34.4–39.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.4–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 29.4% | 26.8–31.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 35.3–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 30.9–38.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.2% | 10.1–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.7% | 69.0–74.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.4% | 65.6–71.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 81.0–84.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.2% | 63.8–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 60.8–66.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.6% | 67.2–77.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.1% | 17.7–22.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 32.6–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 18.2–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.2–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.5–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.9–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 30.5–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 53.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 17.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $99,411 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $463,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,532 | $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 ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 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