ZIP code
99021
in Mead, WashingtonPopulation 8,942
56.81/ 100
Ranked #7,451 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #182 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #8 of 57 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ZIPs (top 14.1%)
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 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & 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 Superfund site
0.5 mi
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
93.8%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Mammography
78%
in the top 26% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS76thDefinition & 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 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS27thDefinition & 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
Mead, Washington (ZIP 99021), by its composite score, sits in the top 23% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,451st) and the top 31% of Washington (182nd).
The standout strengths in the data are the natural place to begin: modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 10.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure lies in the bottom 14.9% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests in the top 16% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 17% nationally, and energy burden is in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other side, modeled fine-particle lands in the top 3.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Unemployment settles in the top 16% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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 Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 99005, 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. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.7 ± 2.7 years. A median household income of $85,489 predicts 79.5 years — 4.2 years above.
Ranked #159 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 83.7 ± 2.7 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 4.8 years above them.
Ranked #178 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 15.7; chronic-disease standing 68.2 — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,633 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
99003
Washingtonshares a border
Score 52.85
Closest healthier
99005
Washingtonshares a border
Score 57.18
Similar health profile
80829
Colorado98% similar profile
Score 59.50
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 | 28.7% | 26.5–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 30.1–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 23.3–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 34.4–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.7% | 30.3–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.4–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.9–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.2% | 69.4–75.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.1% | 72.7–77.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 85.1–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 66.0–72.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.0% | 66.5–71.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 73.3–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–19.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.4% | 28.4–34.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.5–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.4% | 24.8–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 56.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 43.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $85,489 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $465,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,415 | $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 | 83.7 yr ± 1.37 | 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 1.37 years of 83.7, 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