ZIP code
34972
in Okeechobee, FloridaPopulation 20,066
39.54/ 100
Ranked #27,058 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #890 of 974 Florida ZIPs (bottom 8.7%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
23.1%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
190.5 days/year
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
46.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
44.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
45.6%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.2%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.4%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
ZIP 34972, one of several in Okeechobee, Florida ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (27,058th) and the bottom 8.7% of Florida (890th).
A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: modeled uninsured resides in the top 2.9% nationally, and humid heat stands in the top 0.9% nationally. Fatal road crashes sits in the top 4.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 5.2% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the top 3.6% nationally, crowded housing sits in the top 6.5% nationally, and modeled short sleep resides in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled disaster risk stands in the top 7.8% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 3.8% nationally.
For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 32966, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 85.3; chronic-disease standing 33.7 — 52 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,368 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
32966
Floridashares a border
Score 55.47
Closest healthier
33857
Floridashares a border
Score 44.88
Similar health profile
32321
Florida99% similar profile
Score 40.10
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 | 25.6% | 22.9–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 35.4–43.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.1% | 16.4–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 34.5–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.6% | 39.0–52.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.7% | 19.2–26.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 23.1% | 20.4–25.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.9% | 72.2–77.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.4% | 71.8–78.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.7% | 79.7–83.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.7% | 52.5–62.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.3% | 42.6–49.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.8% | 65.0–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.2% | 13.4–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.4% | 16.8–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 28.2–36.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.4% | 36.4–48.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.3% | 25.2–31.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.7–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.6–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.5% | 33.4–41.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.3–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 11.4% (5.3–23.2%) n=972 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 24.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 15.9% (7.1–27.2%) n=968 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 22.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.7% (2.9–20.6%) n=977 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 29.1% (12.7–56.0%) n=977 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.8–7.7%) n=968 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (1.2–11.0%) n=972 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.9% (83.2–96.9%) n=972 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 33.2% (20.1–47.6%) n=972 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 74.9% (47.3–90.5%) n=972 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 2.2% (0.2–6.7%) n=972 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 11.5% (2.3–39.9%) n=977 |
| Single-parent households | 42.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.8% (38.7–75.3%) n=968 |
| Population 65+ | 13.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (11.9–40.6%) n=977 |
| Median age | 37.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.0 yr (35.1–59.8) n=972 |
| Median household income | $61,040 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $72,857 ($48,246–$112,420) n=946 |
| Median home value | $220,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $334,600 ($168,120–$631,410) n=932 |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,604 ($968–$2,218) n=901 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | FL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.8 yr ± 0.92 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.2 yr (74.6–82.2) n=894 |
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 0.92 years of 77.8, 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