ZIP code
99009
in Elk, WashingtonPopulation 4,506
50.79/ 100
Ranked #15,165 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #382 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #32 of 57 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ZIPs (bottom 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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.2%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
15.6 mi
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
14 mi
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.5 pCi/L
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 35% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS35thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Elk, Washington (ZIP 99009), overall, ranks in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,165th) and the bottom 34% of Washington (382nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies in the top 8.9% nationally, modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 11.4% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests in the top 18% nationally. Modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 22% nationally. Set against that, modeled fine-particle resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and distance to a nursing home settles in the top 5.1% nationally. Crowded housing is in the top 10.7% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians lands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Modeled radon lies in the top 20% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. ZIP 99003, just across the boundary, comes out 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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
99003
Washingtonshares a border
Score 52.85
Closest healthier
99021
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.81
Similar health profile
99012
Washington97% similar profile
Score 51.89
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 | 31.6% | 29.6–33.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 33.5–38.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.3–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.9–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 24.2–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 36.3–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 33.9–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.6–11.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 71.0–75.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 72.1–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 84.2–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 66.0–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 63.4–68.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 72.0–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 14.3–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.8% | 18.6–23.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.2% | 29.5–35.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.5–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.8–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.7–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.4–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 28.7–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 62.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 40.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $81,809 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $427,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,075 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 1.75 | 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 1.75 years of 75.8, 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