ZIP code
38642
in Lamar, MississippiPopulation 2,126
44.03/ 100
Ranked #23,386 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #136 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #33 of 81 Memphis, TN-MS-AR ZIPs (top 41%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
70.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
48.1%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
38.4%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
10.2%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Housing insecurity
19.4%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
15.7 mi
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
102.2 days/year
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS78thDefinition & 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
By the composite measure, Lamar, Mississippi (ZIP 38642) sits in the bottom 27% nationally (23,386th) and the top 33% of Mississippi (136th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled pfas stands in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and binge drinking is in the bottom 10.6% nationally. Working the other way, fatal road crashes rests in the top 1.3% nationally, modeled high blood pressure sits in the top 5.9% nationally, and modeled loneliness registers in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lands in the top 9.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room resides in the top 10.0% nationally. Modeled transportation lies in the top 11.1% nationally, and food insecurity settles in the top 11.6% nationally. Modeled diabetes stands in the top 11.0% nationally.
In plain language, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. ZIP 38066, about 0.9 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
38603
Mississippishares a border
Score 41.88
Closest healthier
38066
Tennesseeabout 0.9 mi away
Score 52.55
Similar health profile
39119
Mississippi98% similar profile
Score 44.52
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 | 32.2% | 29.3–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.1% | 44.6–51.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.6–43.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 35.9–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.7% | 14.2–19.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.3–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 79.3–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 80.2–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 86.1–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.2% | 58.3–66.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 68.4–79.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.6–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.2% | 31.1–39.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.5% | 35.4–45.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.4% | 23.4–29.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.7–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 16.0–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.8% | 36.0–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.8% | 18.6–23.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.5% | 29.1–35.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.6% | 21.4–27.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–21.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.4% | 34.2–42.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 30.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 32.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 36.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 20.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 35.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $59,388 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $143,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $684 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $827 ($532–$1,130) n=319 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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