ZIP code
99338
in Kennewick, WashingtonPopulation 20,633
60.58/ 100
Ranked #4,418 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.8%)
Ranked #102 of 581 Washington ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #2 of 15 Kennewick-Richland, WA ZIPs (top 13.4%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.4 µg/L
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
1.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
27.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.7%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
9.1%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
33.4 days/year
in the top 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
61.6%
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
25.3 days/year
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS22ndDefinition & 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
ZIP 99338, one of several in Kennewick, Washington ranks in the top 13.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,418th) and the top 18% of Washington (102nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Fatal road crashes is in the bottom 6.7% nationally, modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 3.4% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure lies in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep is in the bottom 8.3% nationally, subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 10.6% nationally, and modeled mobility disability lies in the bottom 10.4% nationally. On the other side, modeled fine-particle is in the top 7.3% nationally, and tree cover registers in the bottom 10.1% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 99352, 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 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 9%
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 ›
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 82.5 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $111,042 predicts 80.5 years — 2.0 years above.
Ranked #921 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
99320
Washingtonshares a border
Score 48.35
Closest healthier
99352
Washingtonshares a border
Score 60.73
Similar health profile
98296
Washington99% similar profile
Score 62.68
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 | 24.2% | 22.0–26.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.8% | 25.2–30.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.2–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.5–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 33.5–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 30.1–38.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.4–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 6.0–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.2% | 67.1–73.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.4% | 69.5–75.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.2–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 64.9–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.2% | 67.5–72.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 68.9–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.7% | 14.2–19.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.7% | 26.3–33.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.1% | 22.2–28.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.6% (3.5–22.3%) n=583 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.2% (1.8–22.7%) n=582 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.0% (1.5–16.5%) n=588 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 27.4% (12.3–59.7%) n=588 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.5% (0.0–9.7%) n=584 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.2%) n=580 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 92.7% (81.1–97.4%) n=580 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 28.9% (14.6–40.6%) n=580 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.2% (48.2–91.7%) n=580 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.6% (0.0–7.9%) n=580 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.7% (0.3–27.6%) n=588 |
| Single-parent households | 48.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (40.5–76.0%) n=574 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.9% (10.3–36.9%) n=588 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.0 yr (32.9–58.8) n=584 |
| Median household income | $111,042 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $84,646 ($56,217–$132,145) n=547 |
| Median home value | $551,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $452,750 ($241,540–$826,380) n=542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,486 | $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 | 82.5 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 82.5, 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