ZIP code
98603
in Ariel, WashingtonPopulation 1,267
47.59/ 100
Ranked #19,456 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #471 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #9 of 10 Longview-Kelso, WA ZIPs (bottom 10.0%)
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
4.0%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Crowded housing
10.9%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
76.2%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
10.4 days/year
in the bottom 7.5% 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
16.5 mi
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
31.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 12.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Obesity
42.7%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
41.5%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Ariel, Washington (ZIP 98603) lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,456th) and the bottom 19% of Washington (471st).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled disaster risk registers in the top 1.0% nationally, and crowded housing rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands in the top 9.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes lies in the top 12.0% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled pfas lands in the bottom 0.5% nationally, recreation sits in the top 1.7% nationally, and modeled tree cover is in the top 6.5% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs.
A note on the terms: 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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 comparison, ZIP 98601, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 Longview-Kelso, 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 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 97.6 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 17.5 — 80 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #489 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
98601
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.36
Closest healthier
98616
Washingtonshares a border
Score 50.82
Similar health profile
97357
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 46.26
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 | 38.8% | 35.6–42.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.5% | 38.1–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 7.7–11.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 23.7–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 35.6–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.7% | 38.1–47.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.6–13.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.1–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.2% | 73.1–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 71.1–77.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.4–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 64.7–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.6% | 58.7–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.8% | 65.9–77.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 11.9–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.9% | 19.8–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 31.3–38.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 19.5–27.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.1–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.0–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 14.8–20.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.3–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.9% | 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 | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 56.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 41.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $78,281 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $464,500 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 2.02 | 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 2.02 years of 77.7, 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