ZIP code
98837
in Moses Lake, WashingtonPopulation 49,455
50.01/ 100
Ranked #16,237 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #403 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
27.1%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
453 units
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
2.1%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST35thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
25.2 days/year
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Moses Lake, Washington (ZIP 98837) lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,237th) and the bottom 31% of Washington (403rd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: fiber broadband lands in the top 4.9% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 5.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden resides in the bottom 8.2% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, modeled arsenic rests in the top 3.9% nationally, and modeled fine-particle stands in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled nitrate lies in the top 5.6% nationally, and tree cover lands in the bottom 9.9% nationally.
A note on the terms: distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 98832, 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.
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 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
3 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.8 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $74,586 predicts 78.9 years — 1.1 years below.
Ranked #1,512 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.8 ± 0.8 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 82.0 years — 4.2 years below them.
Ranked #3,114 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 18.5; chronic-disease standing 70.7 — 52 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,609 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
98823
Washingtonshares a border
Score 49.02
Closest healthier
98832
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.56
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 | 25.8% | 23.5–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.6–35.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 30.9–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 33.2–43.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 10.1–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.0% | 68.2–73.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.2% | 66.8–73.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.4% | 78.5–82.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.7% | 57.7–65.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.1% | 54.9–61.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.2% | 63.7–76.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.5–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 20.6–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.6% | 28.6–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 19.4–23.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.2–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.4–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 29.6–36.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.3–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 51.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 34.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $74,586 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $315,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,158 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.41 | 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 0.41 years of 77.8, 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