ZIP code
99217
in Spokane, WashingtonPopulation 21,441
48.61/ 100
Ranked #18,183 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #434 of 581 Washington ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #39 of 57 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.2%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & 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
39 per million
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.55%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
13 days/year
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 99217, one of several in Spokane, Washington places in the bottom 43% nationally (18,183rd) and the bottom 25% of Washington (434th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: floodplain exposure is in the bottom 9.9% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 11.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, modeled fine-particle sits in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled arsenic rests in the top 11.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. PFOS in drinking water is in the top 16% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 99021, 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 62%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
“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
2 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 2.4 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 62.2 — 60 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,387 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.4 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #1,617 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
99021
Washingtonshares a border
Score 56.81
Closest healthier
99025
Washingtonshares a border
Score 54.30
Similar health profile
97220
Oregon98% similar profile
Score 48.71
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 | 27.2% | 25.2–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 30.2–34.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 27.3% | 24.9–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 33.0–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 32.9–39.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.3–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.0% | 67.3–72.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.3% | 69.8–74.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.2% | 79.4–82.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 63.3–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.7% | 60.1–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 71.3–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.0% | 19.7–24.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.7% | 30.6–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 18.7–22.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.3–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 13.3–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 15.2–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 29.3–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.4–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 48.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $73,620 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $377,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,413 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 78.4, 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