ZIP code
98834
in Methow, WashingtonPopulation 178
53.38/ 100
Ranked #11,523 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #299 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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.
Park land
67%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.6 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
16.4 per million
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
19.1%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
67.6 mi
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
11.0%
in the top 12.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Methow, Washington (ZIP 98834) ranks in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,523rd) and the bottom 49% of Washington (299th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures split the difference for this area: park land resides in the top 1.3% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 14.9% nationally. Against that, modeled fine-particle is in the top 3.8% nationally, walkability stands in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic settles in the top 6.9% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies in the top 12.8% nationally, and distance to a nursing home resides in the top 13.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 98814, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
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
98812
Washingtonshares a border
Score 44.45
Closest healthier
98814
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.76
Similar health profile
99153
Washington96% similar profile
Score 51.76
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 | 34.0% | 30.6–37.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 35.9–43.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 6.6–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.6–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 36.1–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.7% | 25.6–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.6–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.3–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 73.7–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.2–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.7% | 84.8–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.6% | 67.5–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.0% | 60.6–67.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.8% | 66.9–79.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.1–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 10.7–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.2% | 16.3–24.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.7% | 26.8–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 15.7–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 12.7–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 27.1–36.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 12.2–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.8% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 70.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 39.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 61.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $71,667 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $590,000 | $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 | 82.5 yr ± 2.24 | 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 2.24 years of 82.5, 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