ZIP code
98629
in La Center, WashingtonPopulation 9,076
54.39/ 100
Ranked #10,200 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #261 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #62 of 120 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
2.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
89.6%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
89.6%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
12.2 days/year
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, La Center, Washington (ZIP 98629) lands in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,200th) and the top 45% of Washington (261st).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: fatal road crashes is in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and short sleep lies in the bottom 12.0% nationally. Working the other way, PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 8.8% nationally, PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 13.7% nationally, crowded housing rests in the top 14.2% nationally, and modeled disaster risk is in the top 15% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 98604, 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
98601
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.36
Closest healthier
98604
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.00
Similar health profile
98589
Washington99% similar profile
Score 54.14
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 | 28.6% | 26.6–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.3% | 31.1–35.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 28.1% | 25.8–30.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 33.0–37.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 33.1–39.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 6.9–10.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.9–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 70.8–76.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.0% | 67.3–72.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.5–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 63.4–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 65.1–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 69.2–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 27.4–33.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 17.0–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 13.0–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 26.7–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 59.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $106,779 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $611,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,918 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 80.6, 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