Compare · WA · OR
ZIP 98101 vs ZIP 97201
Seattle, WA compared to Portland, OR on twelve public-records dimensions sourced from EPA, FEMA, USDA, FBI, NCES, and county records. Each cell links to the per-ZIP topic page where the source citation and refresh cadence live.
Last verified 2026-09-24 · methodology
Verdict
On the 3 of 12 dimensions that carry measured values today, radon differs — 98101 is Zone 3, 97201 is Zone 2 (lower is less predicted potential); 2025 median air quality is Good in both (AQI 43 vs 37); neither water system reports a health-based violation in 3 years. zipradar names no overall winner: the other 9 dimensions are not populated yet, and these three are county-level indicators rather than address-level readings. Open either ZIP below for the source and refresh date behind each number.
Side by side
| Dimension | ZIP 98101 | ZIP 97201 |
|---|---|---|
| Water quality EPA SDWIS | Open water quality for 98101 → | Open water quality for 97201 → |
| Flood zone FEMA NFHL | Open flood zone for 98101 → | Open flood zone for 97201 → |
| Wildfire risk USDA Forest Service | Open wildfire risk for 98101 → | Open wildfire risk for 97201 → |
| Air quality EPA AirNow | Open air quality for 98101 → | Open air quality for 97201 → |
| Crime FBI UCR | Open crime for 98101 → | Open crime for 97201 → |
| Schools NCES Common Core | Open schools for 98101 → | Open schools for 97201 → |
| Radon EPA Radon Zones | Open radon for 98101 → | Open radon for 97201 → |
| Lead pipes EPA LCRR / RTI | Open lead pipes for 98101 → | Open lead pipes for 97201 → |
| Property tax County assessor | Open property tax for 98101 → | Open property tax for 97201 → |
| Deed activity County recorder | Open deed activity for 98101 → | Open deed activity for 97201 → |
| Zoning Municipal planning | Open zoning for 98101 → | Open zoning for 97201 → |
| Sex offender registry NSOPW (deep-link) | Open sex offender registry for 98101 → | Open sex offender registry for 97201 → |
Dimensions populate live as ingestion reaches each source. Every row will link to the primary regulator.
Washington context
Wildfire (eastern), Cascadia seismic, coastal flood
Washington's wildfire risk concentrates in eastern WA + the Cascades. Cascadia subduction zone shapes long-term seismic risk. Puget Sound coastal flood zones face Risk Rating 2.0 pressure. Seattle has documented LCRR lead-service-line obligations.
Oregon context
Wildfire, Cascadia seismic, coastal flood
Oregon has high WUI wildfire risk in the Cascades + eastern + southern forests. Cascadia subduction zone shapes long-term seismic risk. Coastal FEMA VE/AE zones; Portland metro carries some LCRR obligations.
Read more on cross-ZIP comparisons
Editorial deep-dives that help when reading two places side-by-side — what each data layer actually proves, and what it doesn't.
Flood zones explained — what AE, X, and VE actually mean
Plain-English guide to FEMA flood-zone codes (A, AE, AH, V, VE, X, X-shaded). What the 1% and 0.2% annual-chance zones mean for your property and your insurance.
EPA Radon Zones — what 1, 2, and 3 mean and when you should test
EPA classifies every US county into Zone 1 (high), Zone 2 (moderate), or Zone 3 (low) for radon. Plain-English guide to the classifications and at-home testing.
EPA AQI categories explained — what 0–50 Good through 301–500 Hazardous mean
Plain-English guide to the six EPA Air Quality Index categories: 0–50 Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151–200 Unhealthy, 201–300 Very Unhealthy, 301–500 Hazardous — what each level means and who is at risk.
FBI UCR and NIBRS — what crime statistics actually show (and don't)
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program and its successor NIBRS aggregate crime data from local agencies. Plain-English guide to what gets reported, what doesn't, and how to read the numbers.
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