Health Disparities in North King County

Health, Wellness, Economy and the People of North King County
Introduction
The Communities of Opportunity (COO) partnership between King County and the Seattle
Foundation sought to identify inequities in health and housing with the intention of improving
outcomes for communities experiencing greater barriers to opportunity. They collected data from
American Community Surveys (ACS), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS) and the Washington State
Department of Health. This data was used to inform a series of maps illustrating the prevalence of
various factors using a color gradient. The initiative’s maps visually indicate communities where
COO could support place based work that increases health and equity, and thus increases
opportunity for community members.
The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity describes the importance of
mapping by neighborhood thus:
“An extensive body of research has established that neighborhood conditions and proximity
to opportunities such as high performing education or sustainable employment have a
critical impact on quality of life and self-advancement. The central premise of opportunity
mapping is that residents of a metropolitan area are situated within an interconnected web of
opportunities that shape their quality of life…Opportunity mapping also provides a
framework to assess what factors are limiting opportunity in a community and can assist in
identifying what measures are needed to remedy these impediments to opportunity.”
Within the context of COO their research has lead them to the following conclusion:
“In King County, where you live, how much you make, and the color of your skin are major
predictors of your life experience and your chances of living well and thriving. Health and
social disparities are increasing markedly in King County, Washington. While average
measures of quality of life, social, and health factors are among the highest in the country,
these averages mask stark differences by place, race and income.”
Seeing as Solid Ground is an agency whose headquarters are located in the North End of
Seattle, and keeping in mind the rise of poverty in suburban areas, the idea was to take the same
theory COO used in creating maps of King County and map similar factors north of the Ship Canal
to the North County line and east to Lake Forest Park. Focusing the lens on North County helps us
to see inequities in the region where our headquarters are located. This tight focus also assists us in
identifying neighborhoods with significantly lower opportunity and health outcomes that are hidden

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by the overall higher average outcomes of the North Seattle region while informing a possible
outreach strategy for communities. By using Census Tracts information was available at a higher
detail than by zipcode, city or county, again allowing a deeper investigation into where some
communities may be at higher risk because of a prevalence of a vulnerable population, a low
economic factor or a negative health outcome
King County is moving towards a model of service delivery described as a Hub. The Hub
model is a place-based service delivery strategy that adaptsto meet the particular needs of the
population it intends to serve. The Family Housing Resource Model describes the Hubs as a service
delivery model that consists of a network of agencies providing core services within specific
geographic regions. Specifically the Hub would be the only access point of entry to targeted housing
assistance for homeless families, be regionally based throughout the county to meet the needs of
families including geographic cultural and other specific needs. The Hub would be quickly matching
families to the right intervention or house resources, identifying those needing more assistance and
placing those on the community placement roaster or a referral to the appropriate resource. As the
demography of our region changes so rapidly, it is important to keep up with areas of inequity and
the Hub model will ensure more even service delivery across all of King County. The region that our
HUB would cover is the 71 census tracts from the Ship Canal to the North County Border and east
to Lake Forest Park.

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The Maps
The twenty maps produced for this project represent health, economic and demographic
data:
Health Economic Demographic
 Preventable
Hospitalization
 Active Tobacco Users
 Rates of Obesity
 Life Expectancy
 Rates of Diabetes
 Adverse Childhood
Experiences
 Frequent Mental
Distress
 Median Income
 Median Housing Value
 Median Gross Rent
 Median Gross Rent as a
Percentage of
Household Income
 Population below 200%
of Federal Poverty Line
 Schools/Free and
Reduced Lunch
Population
 Unemployment
 Poor Housing
Conditions
 Percentage of the
Population who are
Persons of Color
 Population ages 0-4
 Population ages 65+
The sections on the map are Census Tracts which reflect neighborhoods of roughly 2,500-
8,000 people. These boundaries are determined by the US Census Bureau and are fairly permanent.
Changes are indicated by decimals which divide a Census Tract when the population density
increases (ex. 17.01, 17.02). There are 71 Census Tracts in the region highlighted in this project (out
of approximately 400 in King County). The health data is represented by a gradient of red and the
economic by green demographic data is represented in purple. For health indicators red indicates
the highest prevalence of the factor, then dark orange, golden orange, yellow and peach. For the
economic measures emerald green indicates the highest measure followed by teal, lime green, yellow
and seafoam. While the demographic measures start with the highest measure in dark purple
followed by, magenta, fuchsia, lavender and peach.
To determine the shade for each Census Tract, the values were listed in order and divided
into ten strata. Only the five strata indicating high to moderate presence of a factor were mapped.
Where there was little to no presence of a factor is not indicated. The high or moderate presence is
indicated as relative to the 71 Census Tracts included in the comparison.
Census Tracts 201-211 as well as part of 213 are located in Shoreline, WA (green). Census
Tracts 213-215 as well as part of 204.02 are located in Lake Forest Park (pink). Census Tracts 1-54
are located in Seattle, WA (yellow.) The entirety of this region comprises just above 305,000
residents.

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Health
A. Preventable Hospitalization
Definition: Preventable Quality Indicators (PQI). The PQI composite is
based on the number of hospital admissions for: diabetes with short term or
long term complications, uncontrolled diabetes without complications,
diabetes with lower extremity amputation, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, asthma, hypertension, heart failure, angina without a cardiac
procedure, dehydration, bacterial pneumonia, or urinary tract infection. The
PQI was developed by the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research
(AHRQ)
Relevance: PQI conditions are ones where good outpatient care could
potentially prevent the need for hospitalization or for which early
intervention can prevent complications for more serious disease. The PQIs

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are measured as rates of admission to hospital for these conditions in adults
18 and older.
Data Year: 2007-2011 average
Data Source: CHARS, WA state Department of Health, ACS
Disclaimer: Census tract information is based on smoothed rates obtained
using a mixed effect logistic regression model, for purposed of identifying
communities where investments of resources and time can have a big
impact.*
Range: 283.2-929.7/100,000 people
Findings: Most of the cases of preventable hospitalization are above north
85th
st. Much of the concentration centers around I-5. There is a trend that
extends diagonally from Crown Hill, northeast to Lake City including
Northgate, the Aurora corridor and Bitterlake all below the Seattleboundary
at north 145th. However in addition to the high concentration of cases of
preventable hospitalization in North Seattle, most of Shoreline and Lake
Forest Park’s Census tracts trigger in the top half of Tracts, all except for 202
and 208 in North West Shoreline. The factor is most concentrated in North
Central King County and is not bound to borders but crosses over Seattle,
Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, the highest concentration of this factor
radiating from where these cities meet.

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B. Active Tobacco Users
Definition: Percent of adults (18+) who currently smoke.
Relevance: Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and
disease in the United States. It is a major risk factor for heart disease,
respiratory disease and cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the
risk for heart disease and lung cancer among nonsmokers.
Data Source: BRFSS
using a mixed effect logistic regression model, for purposes of identifying
impact*
Range: 4.6-15.4%
Findings: Most of the populations actively using tobacco are doing so above
85th St. up to the Snohomish County line. The concentration is centralized
between the Census Tracts just west of Aurora (4.01,4.02,14,17.02,17.01)to

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the Tracts along Lake City Way (20,21,10,7,8). The Census Tracts bordering
water do not have high rates of Tobacco use. There is some significant
concentration in southwest Ballard and in the Tracts around the University
District. In Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, most of the Census Tracts have
significant populations of tobacco users, aside from northwest Shoreline in
Tracts 208 & 202 and north east Lake Forest Park 214 & 215. Most of the
Tracts in Green Lake, Ravenna, Windermere, Sand Point, Wedgewood and
Central Ballard do not have significant populations of active tobacco users.
C. Obesity
Definition: Percentage of the adult population with a body mass index
(BMI) greater than 30.
Relevance: Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death. It also
increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes,
gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and
endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers.

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Data Source: BRFSS
communities where investments of resources and time can have a big impact.
Range: 11-26.8%
Findings: The concentration of Tracts with high rates of obesity is
predominantly above 85th St. All of the Tracts touching the 145th St. border
of Seattle/Shoreline aside from the Broadview neghborhood (Tract 5) have
significant percentages of this factor. Every Tract in Shoreline has a
significant obese population. There is a concentration of this factor in the
Tracts along Lake City way (20, 21, 11, 10, 8, 7 & 1) as well as along the
Aurora Corridor above 85th (Tracts 13, 4.02, 6, 4.01 & 3.) Two of the four
Tracts making up Lake Forest Park have high populations of obese adults (
213, 204.02.)The major concentration of the highest percentages of this
factor is in Northeast Seattle.

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D. Life Expectancy
Definition: The number of years a newborn is expected to live
Relevance: Life expectancy is a gauge of overall community health.
Data Source: Washington State Department of Health Certificates
Disclaimer: Census tract information is used for purposes of identifying
impact.*
Range: 46.5-89.4 years
Findings: In Shoreline all but one (201) of the Tracts have lower life
expectancies than the majority of the region. All but two of the Tracts along
the upper Aurora corridor (north of 85th
) have lower life expectancies than
their neighbors. Many of the Tracts along Lake City way reflect the same
trend of lower life expectancy. A few outliers of low expectancy are around
the ship canal along Leary way and Roosevelt. This factor seems to have a
more obvious concentration than many of the other factors. This factor is

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also more present in the southwest sector of the region than many of the
factors. Strangely enough, Tract 213 triggers in the red in Lake Forest Park.
This outlier does not seem to present other health or demographic factors
that would lead one to believe that a lower life expectancy is present in this
area and makes one wonder what other factors contribute to this earlier rate
of death.
E. Diabetes
Definition: Percentage of the population of adults who have ever been
diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor.
Relevance: Diabetes is characterized by having high blood glucose (blood
sugar). When a person has diabetes, the body either does not produce
enough insulin or is unable to use its own insulin effectively. When diabetes
is uncontrolled, it can lead to kidney failure, blindness, lower extremity
amputation and even death. Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease
and stroke.
Data Source: BRFSS

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Range: 3.9-10.9%
Findings: Twenty-nine of the 32 Tracts north of north 100th have a high
percentage of populations with diabetes. There is a high rate of diabetes
across the city lines of Seattle, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. This factor is
dominantly present in the north end. Aside from Sand point and some of the
Tracts Sand point touches, it is not present south of north 90th
street. Most
of the red Tracts are located in Shoreline.
F. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported experiencing 4 or more of the
following during their childhood: sexual abuse , verbal abuse, physical abuse,
witness domestic violence, parents separated/divorced, substance abusing
household member, household member in prison or mentally ill household
member.

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Relevance: ACEs harm social, cognitive, and emotional functioning.
Frequent or prolonged exposure to such experiences can damage the
developing brain through stress. The Washington State Family Policy
Council states that “the cumulative stresses of ACEs are the most powerful
determinant of the public’s health and the strongest common driver of
mental, physical and behavioral health costs,”
Data Year: 2009-2011 averages
Data Source: BRFSS
using a mixed effect logistic regression model for purposes of identifying
Range: 8.8-27.2%
Findings: The majority of Census Tracts with high populations of people
with ACES scores of four or more are in Seattle. The Tracts with the highest
percentages are around the University district and in Wallingford and
continuing along the Ship Canal. The tracts with a high concentration
continues along I-5 north and the eastern edge of Green Lake and then
extending to either side of I-5 to 165th and west to Aurora. There is very
little presence of this factor north of Seattle to the county line, but where it is
present is near the north 145th St. borderline. Opposed to many of the other
factors, ACES is mostly concentrated below north 65th St. though it is
present in Northgate and along the lower parts of Lake City way below north
120th.

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G. Frequent Mental Distress (FMD)
Definition: Percentage of adults who experienced stress, depression and
emotional problems for 14 or more days in the last month
Relevance: FMD is associated with decreased consumption of five fruits or
vegetables a day, lack of physical activity, sleep insufficiencyand continuing
to smoke cigarettes. Mental illness is a leading cause of disability and
premature mortality and accounts for over 15% of the burden of all diseases
in the U.S.
Data Source: BRFSS
Disclaimer: Census Tract information is based on smoothed rates obtained
using a mixed effect logistic regression mode, for purposes of identifying
impact.*
Range: 4.7-14.8%
Findings: As with many of the other factors measure in this project, there is
a trend of significant presence of this factor diagonally north east from

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Crown Hill through Northgate and up to Lake City, occurring most severely
in Tracts 17.02, 13, 12, 7 and 1 and radiating out from these. This factor is
also present along the northern Seattle sector of the Aurora corridor
(including Bitterlake 4.01, 4.02 and Northgate/Haller Lake 6,3)and most of
the Tracts along Lake City Way ((20, 10, 7) as well . The final area of
concentration is along the Ship Canal from Shilshole Bay to the University of
Washington (32, 47, 49, 54, 33, and 50), excluding Tract 48.
Economy
H. Median Income
Definition: This includes the income of the householder and all other
individuals 15 years old and over in the household, whether they are related
to the householder or not.
Relevance: Median income can affect the accessibility one has to safe and
secure housing, adequate health care and healthy food. On a larger scale,

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neighborhoods with low median incomes may not receive the same
investments in schools, parks and other community resources.
Data Source: ACS
Disclaimer: ACS estimates are based on a sample and are subject to
sampling variability.**
Range: $7700-$116,148
Findings: Most of the concentration of this factor hovers around the 145th
St .Seattle/Shoreline boundary. Again we see a diagonal trend extending
northeast from Carkeek Park/85th St. NW towards Lake City (Tracts
17.02/17.01,13,12,7 and 1). Of the nine census tracts touching the
Seattle/Shoreline division, seven of them have some of the lowest median
incomes in the selected region(4.01,209,3,210, 211,2,1). The Southwest tracts
along the ship canal from Fremont towards Ballard also indicate lower
median incomes than their neighbor(32,47)s. All six census tracts in the
University District have a high concentration of people with lower median
incomes. Much of Ballard, Green Lake and North East Seattle (Laurelhurst,
Sandpoint, Windermere, Roosevelt, and Wedgewood) have no representation
on this map. Most of Shoreline has lower median incomes than the rest of
this region, except for the three northwestern tracts 201,202 and 208.

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I. Median Housing Value
Definition: is the respondent's estimate of how much the property (house
and lot) would sell for if it were for sale. This tabulation includes only
specified owner-occupied housing units--one-family houses on less than 10
acres without a business or medical office on the property. These data
exclude mobile homes, houses with a business or medical office, houses on
10 or more acres, and housing units in multi-unit structures. Certain
tabulations elsewhere include the value of all owner-occupied housing units
and vacant-for-sale housing units
Relevance: Median Housing Value indicates where there is high real estate
value which can often be an indicator of high income. Areas with low
housing value may also indicate regions where, due to our current real estate
market, economic gentrification is near.
Data Year: 2009- 2013 average
Data Source: ACS
Disclaimer:The data are estimates and are subject to sampling variability.**

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Range: $190,400-$1,000,000+
Findings: The homes with lower housing values are primarily north of 85th
street to the King/Snohomish Boundary. There are few census tracts below
85th St. with a low median value; those are 53.01, 43.02 north of the
University of Washington, 54 in lower Wallingford/Fremont, 47 along the
ship canal and 33 just north of that. The lowest median housing values in
Seattle are in Northgate and Bitterlake, but most of the lowest median
housing values are along the eastern edge of Shoreline in Tracts 211, 205 and
204.01. Most of the low housing values are on properties that do not border
water. Again the northwestern diagonal trend from Carkeek towards Lake
City appears here as it has in numerous other factors.
J. Median Gross Rent
Definition: Gross rent is the contract rent plus the estimated average
monthly cost of utilities (gas, water electricityand sewer) and fuels (oil,
kerosene, wood, etc.) whether these are paid by the renter (or paid for the

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renter by someone else). Gross rent is intended to eliminate differentials that
result from carrying practices with respect to the inclusion of utilities and
fuels as part of the rental payment. The estimated costs of utilities and fuels
are reported on an annual basis but are converted to monthly figures for
tabulation.
Relevance: Median Gross Rent indicates where low-income communities
can and do live.
Data Source: ACS
Disclaimer: The data are estimates and are subject to sampling variability.**
Range: $869-$1837
Findings: The lowest median rents are located in Southwest Shoreline in
Tracts 209 and 208 as well as many of the Seattle Tracts bordering Shoreline,
including 4.01 (Bitterlake) and 1 (Lake City.) There is a trend in north Seattle
which extends diagonally Northeast starting in tract 17.02 (Crownhill)
passing through North Greenwood, Northgate and ending in Lake city.
Finally, the University district/Ravenna area composed of 53.02, 53.01,
43.01, 43.02 and 44 has some of the lowest median rents in the selected area.
Two of Lake Forest Park’s four census Tracts (204.02 and 213) trigger in the
lower rent prices for this area.

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K. Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Income
Definition: Percentage of the population who are paying more than 30% of
their income towards gross rent expenses.
Relevance: When people are housing cost burdened, there is less money for
food, healthcare and community investment.
Data Year: 2009- 2013 average
Data Source: ACS
Range: 17-50+% of population
Findings: The highest concentration of this factor is in the University
District and their neighboring tracts sprawling up to 75th St. NE to Tract 38.
This trend continues up 15th Ave. NE and along Lake City Way North East
to the Shoreline border at 145th St. there is a significant concentration in the
Northwest Seattle in Bitterlake, North Greenwood and Broadview. All the
Tracts along the Seattle side of the 145th street borderline all have a
significant amount of individuals paying more than 30% of their income
toward rent costs. Of the 15 tracts that comprise all of Shoreline and Lake

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Forest Park,eleven of them have a high prevalence of this factor. The ones
that do not are south east Shoreline and south west Lake Forest Park. In
Shoreline the highest concentration is in Central Shoreline Tracts 206,and
207 and northwestern Shoreline Tract 204.01.
L. Percent Below 200% Poverty Level
Definition: The percent of households who make less than 200% of the
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
Relevance: The FPL is a guideline for determining eligibility for various
federal state and local social service programs. For 2013, 200% of the FPL is
an income below $22980 for an individual or $47100 for a family of 4.
Poverty impacts mental and physical health.
Data Source: ACS
Range: 5.1-81.9%
Findings: The majority of tracts in the top tenth of tracts with a high
presence of people below 200% of the federal poverty line are located in the

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University District, radiating out from 53.01 and including all tracts that
touch this area. Many of the other tracts with significant populations in this
measure surround the 145th border of Seattle and Shoreline. Most of the
census tracts in Shoreline register in the top half for this measurement (8 out
of 11). High presence of this measure trends diagonally northeast from Tract
17.02 towards tract 1 (roughly north 85th st. NW to 145th St NE)
M. Schools/Free and Reduced Priced Lunch
Definition: Locations of public Elementary, K-8, middle and high schools
and the percentage of students whose families qualify for free and reduced
price lunch (<185% FPL)
Relevance: These data not only indicate the percentage of families at 185%
poverty line, but indicates how many children are reliant upon school
supplied meals.
Data Year: 2012-2013

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Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics Common Core
Data (NCES CCD)
Schools:
Elementary Schools- Navy Blue
1. Melvin G. Syre Elementary
2. Echo Lake Elementary
3. Lake Forest Park Elementary
4. Ridgecrest Elementary
5. Brookside Elementary
6. Highland Terrace Elementary
7. Parkwood Elementary
8. Briarcrest Elementary
9. Olympic Hills Elementary
10. Northgate Elementary
11. John Rogers Elementary
12. Viewlands Elementary
13. North Beach Elementary
14. Olympic View Elementary
15. Sacajawea Elementary
16. Wedgewood Elementary
17. Loyal Heights Elementary
18. Whittier Elementary
19. Greenwood Elementary
20. Bagley Elementary
21. Thornton Creek Elementary
22. Viewridge Elementary
23. Adams Elementary
24. West Woodland Elementary
25. B.F. Day Elementary
26. A.P.P at Lincoln
27. Mcdonald Elementary
28. John Stanford International School
29. Bryant Elementary
30. Sandpoint Elementary
31. Laurelhurst Elementary
K- 8 Schools- Dark Purple
1. Cascade K-8
2. Broadview-Thompson K-8
3. Pinehurst K-8
4. Salmon Bay
Middle Schools- Royal Blue

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1. Albert Einstein Middle School
2. Kellogg Middle School
3. Jane Addams Middle Schools
4. Whitman Middle School
5. Eckstein Middle School
6. Hamilton International Middle School
High Schools- Sky Blue
1. Shorewood High School
2. Shoreline Monroe High School
3. Shorecrest High School
4. Ingraham High School
5. Nathan Hale High School
6. Middle College High School
7. Roosevelt High School
8. Ballard High School
Range: 0-78.97%
Findings: The circles surrounding the number identifying a particular circle
are keyed in the same red-peach gradient as the health factors. Most of the
schools with a significant population of students on subsidized lunch are in
North Seattle; primarily above 100th
.Most of this factor is concentrated in the
Tracts bordering 99 to the west and east out to Lake City Way. Almost all of
the schools north of 85th
have a significant population of students on Free
and Reduced Lunch, even up to the County Line.

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N. Unemployment
Definition: All civilians 16 years old and over are classified as unemployed if
they (1) were neither “at work” nor “with a job but not at work” during the
reference week, and (2) were actively looking for work during the last 4
weeks, and (3) were available to start a job.
Relevance: Unemployment means families are losing money as well as
communities. Unemployed individuals lose purchasing power, which can lead
to a rippling effect with more people losing jobs.
Data Year: 2008-2012
Data Source: ACS
Range: 2.3-19.9%
Findings: The major concentration of unemployment in this region radiates
from tract 53.02 in the University District. Of the nine Tracts that border the
Seattle/Shoreline boundary at 145th 2/3 of them have a high prevalence of
this measure. The other areas of significant concentration are northwest
Seattle, south of 145th to 85th west of 1-5. This includes both sides of the

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Aurora corridor and extends as far west as Crown Hill, North to Bitterlake
and East to Northgate. Strangely enough, this concentration surrounds but
does not include does not include Tract 4.02( just south of Bitterlake and
west of Aurora.) In Shoreline the concentration hovers around i-5
concentrated in Tracts 211 and 205. Tract 1 in North East Seattle also ranks
in the highest tenth of rates of unemployment in the selected region.
O. Poor Housing Conditions
Definition: Households with two or more of the following housing
conditions: housing costs > 30% income; more than 1 person per room in
the home; no working kitchen; no working bathroom.
Relevance: Housing quality and health outcomes in the United States are
intimately linked. Substandard housing is associated with injury, respiratory
infections, lead poisoning and asthma. Housing conditions may also reflect
neighborhood conditions.
Data Source: ACS

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Range: 0-10.8%
Findings: Most of the presence of this factor is on either side of the Aurora
corridor from 90th to the King/Snohomish County borderline. South of the
145th st. Seattle Shoreline border, the factor is concentrated not only on the
Tracts along the Aurora corridor but also the Tracts west along Aurora from
145th south to 90th. Excluding Tract 46 which includes Green Lake, there is
a higher prevalence of Poor Housing Conditions in the tracts surrounding
the lake to the North, East and West. The University District also stands out
as an area with a high prevalence of this factor, excluding 53.02 the tract with
the University of Washington campus.
The data are estimates and are subject to sampling variability.**
Demographics
P. Percentage of the Population who are Persons of Color

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Definition: Percentage of the population who do not identify as Caucasian
or White
Relevance: Because of systemic racism that limits the ability to access
resources for many people of color, and the ties between economic status
and health, it is significant to be able to see areas where there are significant
populations of people of color.
Data Source: ACS
Range: 10.1-50.5%
Findings: Aside from the Census Tracts that comprise the University
District and Sandpoint there are minimal populations of Persons of Color
below north 85th St ne. There is a significant trend of People of Color
diagonally northeast from Licton Springs to Lake City in Tracts 13, 12,7 and
1. The Tracts neighboring this trend line all have significant populations up
to the county line, apart from Lake Forest Park. There are also significant
populations of people of color in Central/East Shoreline and not significant
populations of people of color in North eastern Shoreline. Nine of the
eleven Census Tracts that comprise Shoreline have significant percentages of
the population identify as people of color.

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Q. Population ages 0-4
Definition: Percentage of the population under 5 years of age
Relevance: Regional shifts in education priorities have highlighted this age
group as essential to serve if we wish to secure health, economic and
educational outcomes for our next generation.
Data Source: ACS
Range: 0-10.6%
Findings: There is a distinct line across north Seattle along 85th with every
single census tract to the south of this street having a significant population
of children birth to four years old. The Southeast section of this area in
Laurelhurst/Windermere (42/41.) Along Lake city Way in Tracts 21/21/10
and 7 there are significant amounts of children birth to four as well as in
Northgate in Tracts 6/12. Most of the areas in Shoreline with a significant
population of birth to four residents are in the central area in Tracts
207,210and 206 but there is a presence in the Tracts to the east as well in 205
and 211, as well as two of the four Tracts in Lake Forest Park 215 and

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204.02. There is a moderate presence of this factor in the northwest corner
of the focus area below the Seattle/Shoreline 145th border.
R. Population ages 5-17
Definition: Percentage of the population ages 5-17
Relevance:
Data Source: ACS
Range: .7-22.5%
Findings: Every single Census Tract North of Seattle to the County line in
Shoreline and Lake Forest Park has a significant percentage of population
ages 5-17. From Tract 15 North to 145th Crown Hill to Bitterlake in tracts
16,14 and 5 there are also a fair amount of young people 5-17. In Seattle, this
factor is not present in much of Green Lake, Wallingford, Ballard, Fremont,
Northgate and along the Aurora corridor. The other area where this is a large
percentage of you age 5-17 is along the eastern edge of Seattle from Lake

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City (Tract 1) South to Windermere (Tract 41) including tracts 8,9, 21, 22, 38,
39, 40 and 42 including every tract along the eastern birder of this region.
S. Population ages 55-64
Definition: Percentage of the population ages 55-64
Relevance: This age is technically “senior” and qualifies for senior services.
Data Source: ACS
Range: .8-24.1%
Findings: Most of the presence of adults ages 55-64 is north of 110th. Much
of this concentration is in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park bus also includes
the Haller Lake (tract 6) Lake City (Tract 1) Broadview (Tract 5) and North
Greenwood (tract 4.02.)The Tractscomprising north Ballard (31, 15, 16) also
have significant percentages of persons between the ages of 55 and 64.)
South of Lake City, along the northern park of Sandpoint way and the parts
of Lake City way around Tracts 8 and 9 too have large percentages of adults
age 55-64/.

P a g e | 33
T. Population ages 65+
Definition: Percentage of the population ages 65 or more
Relevance: Qualifies for senior services, is a fast growing population and
will signify areas where elder services will b needed.
Data Source: ACS
Range: 0-27.3%
Findings: There is a very strong presence of persons 65+ along the Western
border of the selected region from 115th north to the county line. This
section includes Tracts 5, 4.02, 4.01, 209, 208, 202 and 201. In addition to
this Most of the selection above the 145th Seattle/Shoreline borderline has
significant populations of adults 65+. The north central region of Tracts in
Seattle from Northgate to the city boundary also has a significant presence of
this population. Lastly Tracts 8 &9 South of Lake City down towards
Windermere have moderate percentages of this population. When combining

P a g e | 34
the data from 55-64 and 65+ some of the Tracts have upwards of 43% of
the population considered senior.
*Please see Public-Health-Seattle & King County’s Community Health Indicator webpage for more
information about how these measures were determined.
** The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use
of a Margin of Error (MOE). The MOE used with ACS estimates can be interpreted as providing a 90
percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate plus the MOE and the estimate minus the MOE
(the upper and lower confidence bounds) contains the full population value of the estimate. Please visit
factfinder2.census.gov.for specific MOEs for measures listed above.
Areas of Interest
1. Head Quarters- Tract 50
The Solid Ground headquarters are located in Wallingford in Census
Tract 50. This Tract and those neighboring it have relatively high
health outcomes when compared to other Tracts in the region we are
analyzing. Compared to other Tracts in this region, Tract 50 does not
have significant populations of many of the groups that we serve
including: Children 0-17, Adults 55 and over, or People of Color.
Tract 50 does not have significant populations of people paying more
than 30% of their income towards rent or significant unemployed
populations. Tract 50 does not have high populations of individuals
who are obese or who have diabetes. It is relatively expensive to buy
or rent housing in this neighborhood. Tract 50 does have a slightly
significant presence of Poor Housing and Tobacco use, a medium
presence of low median income and people living below 200% FPL
and a moderate amount of individuals with high ACES scores.
2. Sand Point Campus- Tract 40
The Tract that holds our Sand Point Campus stands out, because
many factors that are present in this Tract are not present in the
Tracts nearby. Tract 40 does have significant populations of adults
over 65 and youth 17 and under. Additionally it does a higher
presence of People of Color than most Tracts in the region, standing
out in the Southeast corner of this map, with most Tracts nearby
having a high population of White people. There are no schools in
Tract 40, but Sandpoint Elementary in Tract 42, right on the border
of Tract 40 has the highest population of students on subsidized
lunch below 85th
st. Most schools near there have little to no students
on subsidized lunch. There is a moderate amount of people living on
less than 200% FPL and with poor housing conditions. More people

P a g e | 35
in this area are going to the hospital for preventable causes than in
other areas in the region and especially nearby.
3. University District- Tracts 53.02, 53.01, 52, 43.01, 43.02
Because this area is primarily inhabited by students the data is all over
the place and it is hard to read what the actual needs of the
community are. In 53.02, the Tract with the University of
Washington, there is both the highest average housing value (over a
million dollars) and the lowest median income (around $7,700). This
area stands out because it has very high rates of frequent mental
distress, high populations of people with ACES scores of four or
more, significant populations of tobacco users and low life
expectancy. People in this area are making little money and paying
some of the lowest rents, but these rents still comprise more than
30% of the income for the majority of residents. This area has very
few people over 55 or under 17, which leads to the conclusion that
these are mostly students. This accounts for many of the economic
and housing factors and shows a stark relation between these low
economic conditions and low health outcomes.
4. Northern Aurora Corridor- Tracts 4.01,4.02,3, 6, 13
These Tracts are the Tracts along Aurora in Seattle. Aurora continues
up into Shoreline, and some of the trends that are present in this area
continue across the city boundary, however the focus will remain on
the Seattle portion and Shoreline will be highlighted below. This
region is most consistently represented on this map than any other
region. Not only does it register in on the scale for all of the health
outcomes, within the varying degrees it is most commonly in the red
and dark orange. This area has a low median income, a low housing
value, high unemployment, poor housing conditions, the rents are
low but they are still generally more than 30% of the incomes of
most residents. There are significant rates of preventable
hospitalization in this region. All of the schools in this region have
significant populations of students on subsidized meals. There are
high percentages of adults 55 and over as well as Persons of Color in
this region. There is a moderate presence of youth 17 and under. In
this region, Tract 4.01 specifically has the highest concentration of
all risk factors. It is both a part of this trend and stands out. It
registers the highest measure across the entire 71 tract area in 12 of
the 19 maps. It registers in the second highest measure in an
additional 3. There are only two maps that this Tract does not trigger
recognition: 55-64 year olds and 5-17 year olds. There is a significant
presence of every single health and economic factor in this Tract and

P a g e | 36
it seems to radiate out from this concentrated point across and down
Aurora and up into Shoreline as well. If we were to consider an
additional or alternative location for a headquarters, the Bitterlake
Neighborhood on Aurora in Tract 4.01 would be an area to look into
because many factors compound in this Census Tract and it is highly
accessibly by transit. As an organization that prioritizes community
building, it would be more in line with our work to be located in
amongst the community we intend to serve, in lieu of Wallingford a
place of relative prosperity and wealth. In King County we are the
northern most Community Action Agency (CAA) of our kind, the
next one headed North is in Everett. That means between 45th
in
Wallingford and Everett, there is no service provision, despite most
of the high risk factors being north of 90th
St. Though a lot of King
County’s need is in South Seattle and beyond, there are multiple
CAA’s in Central Seattle that serve this area and none that serve
North Seattle/Shoreline/LakeForest Park.
5. Northeast/Lake City Way- Tracts 1, 7, 10, 11
Tract 1 borders Shoreline to the North. This Tract is another central
point from which radiates a ripple effect in concentration of high risk
factors. All health factors register in this region. Not as consistently
as in the Seattle portion of the Aurora Corridor. Health outcomes in
this region are especially marked, the presence of obesity in this
region is very high. In addition, low life expectancy, high rates of
diabetes and a high rate of preventable hospitalization indicate that
this region has lower health outcomes than most of the rest of the
region. Schools in these Tracts and those nearby have significant
populations of students on Free and Reduced Lunch. There are many
people living with low incomes, many below 200% of the poverty
line, paying lower rents that are still significant portions of their
income in an area where the housing value is low. This area has a
modest amount of preventable hospitalizations, tobacco users and
individuals with high ACES scores. Demographically there are
significant populations of Persons of Color and less significant
populations of seniors and youth. Where these factors are present
most consistently is in Track 1 in the northeast corner of Seattle, and
when they are present in the areas around this Tract, they are
generally more present in Tract 1.

P a g e | 37
6. Shoreline- Tracts 201,202,203,204.01,
2105,206,207,208,209,210,211
As Seattle becomes more and more expensive, poverty becomes
more and more of a suburban issue. The total 71 tracts include 11 in
Shoreline , 4 in Lake Forest Park and the remaining in Seattle. Within
the portion of Seattle that were analyzed there were neighborhoods
that rarely, if ever, registered in the reds or dark greens for the chosen
economic and health factors. All of the Shoreline Census registered
for at least one of the economic or health factors. Of the 13 total
non-demographic factors used in this project an average of 8 of the
11 Shoreline Tracts had a significant measure for each of them. All
11 Tracts registered on the obesity scale. Ten out of the eleven tracts
had lower average life expectancy, higher percentages of diabetes and
lower housing values than the majority of the selected region. Nine
out of eleven Tracts had high rates of Tobacco users, significant
percentages of people paying more than 30% of their income
towards rent and higher rates of preventable hospitalization. The
demographic factors that represent vulnerable populations including
youth 17 and under and adults 55 and above are incredibly significant
in Shoreline: some Tracts in Shoreline having senior populations of
over 43% and large populations of school-age children. Shoreline
additionally has significantly more Persons of Color with some Tracts
having a slight majority over the White population. Again, we are the
closest CAA in King County to this region unless people decide to
travel to the eastside which is challenging with or without a vehicle.
Many of the factors present in the northern Aurora corridor in
Seattle, continue north through the Shoreline portion of Aurora as
well. One could say that these factors are most present along the
county line to the north or the city line to the south; ultimately
however, these factors are generally over represented in Shoreline as
a whole and not distinctly concentrated in one sector or another.

P a g e | 38
Cross Tabulations
A. Percentage of population who are Persons of Color X Schools
and Free and Reduced Price Lunch
When these two maps are layered it is obvious that the schools with
the highest rates of students receiving subsidized lunches are in or
neighboring Tracts that have high populations of Persons of Color.
This is especially concentrated in north central Seattle around
Northgate/Bitterlake/Thornton Creek. In fact there are is only one
school with significant populations of students receiving subsidized
lunch that is not in or neighboring a tract with high populations of
persons of color and that is B.F. Day in Fremont. Most of these
schools with significant rates of students receiving subsidized lunches
are in the Tracts with higher populations of Persons of Color, four
are not. Of those four, three neighbor Tracts with significant
populations of people of color.

P a g e | 39
B. Below 200% FPL X 0-4 X 5-17
The areas where there are highest percentages of populations living
below 200% of the federal poverty line and significant populations of
children are in central and east Shoreline. All of the Tracts in
Shoreline have significant populations of children 5-17 and some
have significant populations of birth-4, while 8 out of the 11 Tracts in
Shoreline have significant populations of people living below 200%
of the poverty line. In Seattle there are not many places where these
factors overlap. Places where they do are Sand Point (Tract 40) Tract
3 at between Aurora and I-5, Tract 12 in Northgate, Carkeek Park
(tract 14) and some of the Tracts along Lake City Way (20, 10, 7, 1.)
In the portion of Seattle on this map however what is visible is that
most of the tracts with high populations of young people (especially
birth-4) do not have high rates of poverty.

P a g e | 40
C. Median Income X Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Income
In North Seattle many of the Tracts with low median incomes are
also spending more than 30% of that income on housing. Tracts
4.01 (Bitterlake) across 145th
to Lake City (tract 1) all have significant
populations of folks paying more than 30% of their income towards
rent and the lowest incomes. This is true for much of the diagonal
trend that was present through many of the factors measure
throughout this project, a northeastern line from Tract 13 through
Northgate, across I-5 and up to the city boundary at 145th
st. Of
course, there is a high concentration of both of these factors at the
University of Washington and the surrounding Tracts. In Shoreline
too, many of the tracts with low median incomes also end up putting
significant portions of that money towards rent expenses, including
Tract 210 which borders Seattle in central Shoreline and 207 and 203
north of that. However there are also some Tracts where individuals
are paying significant portions of their income towards housing even

P a g e | 41
though that Tract does not have a large percentage of low wage
earners. These include Broadview, Ravenna, Roosevelt and northeast
Lake Forest Park.
D. Tobacco X Life Expectancy X Diabetes X Obesity
When you cross four of these factors you can see where the tracts are
exceedingly darkened that these factors are concentrated in this area.
It is starkly obvious that health outcomes decrease the farther north
you go. The line along 85th
St. shows a significant difference in
coloration with Tracts north of this line darker red then those below.
Below the 145th
St. boundary this concentration is mostly between
the tracts border 99 to the west and those along Lake City to the east.
North of the 145th
St. boundary however, every single Tract in both
Shoreline and Lake Forest Park has significantly lower health
outcomes than the rest of the region.

P a g e | 42
E. Preventable Hospitalization X Median Income
There is an obvious correlation between low median income and the
rates of preventable hospitalization. This is most obvious in North
Seattle. There has been a trend line of severity of factor present in
many of the other maps diagonally northeast from Crown Hill to
Lake City in Tract 1. Along this diagonal the confluence of these
factors is most significant in tracts 1, 12,13 17.02 but is equally as
significant in tract 4.01 in Bitterlake. South of 85th
there are very few
tracts with high rates of preventable hospitalization. North of Seattle,
in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park there are high rates of preventable
hospitalization but they do not significantly correlate to low median
incomes.

P a g e | 43
F. Median Income X 54-65 X 65+
Where these factors are crossing is almost entirely above North 100th
st. apart from a few outliers. This is unsurprising considering the
amount of senior population located in this sector of the region. Also
considering that the only location with a high concentration of low
median income below north 100th
st. is around the University, which
coincidentally has a very low population of adults over 55.
Specifically we are seeing these three factors crossing in Bitterlake in
Tracts 4.01 and 4.02, additionallyin Northgate in Tract 12. In these
areas there are the highest populations of elders with the lowest
median incomes. Most of Northgate, Lake City and Shoreline
however there are significant populations of elders (some tracts
comprised of as much as 43% 55 and older) in Tracts with lowest
median incomes in the regions.

Health Disparities in North King County

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