ZIP code
98616
in Cougar, WashingtonPopulation 192
50.82/ 100
Ranked #15,115 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #381 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #6 of 10 Longview-Kelso, WA ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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
2.7%
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
58%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
22.6 mi
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
20.1 mi
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
15.9 mi
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
10.5 days/year
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST51stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
73.3%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
3.1%
in the bottom 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Cougar, Washington (ZIP 98616) lands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,115th) and the bottom 34% of Washington (381st).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled pfas registers in the bottom 0.2% nationally, and homeownership sits at the national maximum. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 4.7% nationally. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and tree cover settles in the top 7.6% nationally. On the other hand, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 2.0% nationally, home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 2.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lands in the top 4.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers in the top 4.9% nationally.
To translate a couple of 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. 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 98675, 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 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 74%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
98603
Washingtonshares a border
Score 47.59
Closest healthier
98675
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.15
Similar health profile
97859
Oregon94% similar profile
Score 51.04
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 | 39.2% | 36.3–42.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.0% | 39.9–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.2% | 11.2–13.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 7.5–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 21.8–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 38.0–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 35.4–43.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 11.2–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 5.4–9.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.6–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.7% | 73.1–78.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.7–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 69.4–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.8% | 56.2–61.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 70.3–79.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 10.8–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.2% | 18.4–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 30.5–37.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 18.1–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.6–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.3% | 29.9–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.2% | 14.3–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 40.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 3.1% | 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 | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 58.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.0% | 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 | 100.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 50.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 66.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | — | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 1.93 | 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 1.93 years of 77.5, 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