ZIP code
98926
in Ellensburg, WashingtonPopulation 34,353
54.52/ 100
Ranked #10,036 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #256 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
772 units
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & 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
30.5%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
2.3%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.3%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
19.8 per million
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
27.9%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.7%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Ellensburg, Washington (ZIP 98926), by its overall standing, sits in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,036th) and the top 44% of Washington (256th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the bottom 7.7% nationally, and high blood pressure stands in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 8.7% nationally. By contrast, modeled disaster risk is in the top 0.8% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 2.8% nationally. Slow internet speeds rests in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled fine-particle lies in the top 7.5% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 98828, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.3 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $71,137 predicts 78.7 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,188 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
98828
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.42
Closest healthier
98850
Washingtonshares a border
Score 55.56
Similar health profile
84029
Utah98% similar profile
Score 54.24
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 | 24.4% | 22.0–26.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.9% | 25.1–30.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 27.2% | 24.0–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.5% | 27.6–33.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.2% | 29.1–39.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 9.1–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.1% | 65.2–70.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.2% | 64.3–71.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 78.3% | 76.2–80.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 63.2–71.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.1% | 61.0–67.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 67.1–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.4% | 15.5–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.1% | 16.3–22.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 25.8–34.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 26.8–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 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+ | 14.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 30.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $71,137 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $470,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,338 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 years of 80.3, 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