ZIP code
98823
in Ephrata, WashingtonPopulation 12,188
49.02/ 100
Ranked #17,642 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #426 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
3.5%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.9%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Mammography
67.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
91.7%
in the top 14.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
16.7 days/year
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS74thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Ephrata, Washington (ZIP 98823) ranks in the bottom 45% nationally (17,642nd) and the bottom 27% of Washington (426th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Elder services resides in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 7.0% nationally. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 10.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled nitrate lies in the top 4.8% nationally, fine-particle lands in the top 5.0% nationally, and mammography sits in the bottom 7.0% nationally. Modeled tree cover is in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and arsenic settles in the top 10.8% nationally.
To spell things out, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Close by, ZIP 98837, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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.
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 79%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
“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
98837
Washingtonshares a border
Score 50.01
Closest healthier
98845
Washingtonshares a border
Score 52.90
Similar health profile
97838
Oregon97% similar profile
Score 49.50
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 | 27.9% | 25.4–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.3–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 22.3–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 31.7–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 34.1–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.2% | 13.7–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.2% | 69.3–75.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.8% | 67.4–74.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.8% | 78.9–82.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.2% | 58.0–66.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.6% | 54.4–60.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.7% | 60.9–74.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.4–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.9% | 20.7–27.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.7% | 28.7–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.9% | 19.5–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.5–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.0% | 30.5–37.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.2% | 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 | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 43.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 13.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 32.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $73,074 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $267,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,088 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 79.8, 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