ZIP code
98921
in Buena, WashingtonPopulation 124
56.67/ 100
Ranked #7,578 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #184 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #1 of 21 Yakima, WA ZIPs (top 4.8%)
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.
Home broadband subscription
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
25.1%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
49.9%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
79.8%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
83.5%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.3%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
28.9%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Buena, Washington (ZIP 98921) stands in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,578th) and the top 32% of Washington (184th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: housing-cost burden sits at the national minimum, and modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 2.1% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 2.5% nationally. Working the other way, home broadband subscription sits at the national minimum, modeled uninsured resides in the top 2.2% nationally, and homeownership stands at the national minimum. Modeled colon screening sits in the bottom 2.0% nationally, poverty resides in the top 0.5% nationally, and modeled pfas stands in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled fine-particle sits in the top 2.1% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, home broadband subscription runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 99353, about 42 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 Yakima, 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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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
98953
Washingtonshares a border
Score 53.08
Closest healthier
99353
Washingtonabout 42 mi away
Score 57.51
Similar health profile
80221
Colorado95% similar profile
Score 52.13
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 | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.7% | 22.0–27.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.2% | 2.5–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.3–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 28.9% | 26.3–32.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 36.0–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.3–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 25.1% | 18.1–32.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 62.2% | 58.7–65.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 64.4% | 60.4–68.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 77.7% | 73.6–81.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.9% | 45.6–54.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.4% | 57.3–63.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 71.8–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.5–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.6% | 7.0–12.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.9% | 22.6–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.4% | 25.9–33.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.8% | 20.5–31.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.1–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.2–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 13.6–21.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.0% | 25.0–35.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 6.4–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 9.3–14.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.4–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.4% | 5.9–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 79.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 100.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 100.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 0.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 0.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 41.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 0.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 15.6 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 | 80.8 yr ± 1.46 | 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 1.46 years of 80.8, 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