ZIP code
38650
in Myrtle, MississippiPopulation 4,599
44.12/ 100
Ranked #23,304 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #135 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 33%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
9.1%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
69.3%
in the bottom 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
31.8%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
Myrtle, Mississippi (ZIP 38650), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 27% nationally (23,304th) and the top 33% of Mississippi (135th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled pfas settles in the bottom 7.1% nationally, housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 10.7% nationally, and modeled radon rests in the bottom 19% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled colon screening lands in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and mammography rests in the bottom 11.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the top 12.4% nationally, and cognitive disability lands in the top 14.1% nationally. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness settles in the top 18% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 38627, 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 88%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
“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 87.6; chronic-disease standing 35.3 — 52 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,322 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
38610
Mississippishares a border
Score 41.69
Closest healthier
38627
Mississippishares a border
Score 47.03
Similar health profile
38827
Mississippi98% similar profile
Score 44.91
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 | 30.0% | 26.6–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 37.4–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 18.9–26.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.5–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 37.1–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 32.9–48.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.8% | 15.5–22.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.5% | 9.8–15.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 74.8–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 74.6–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.4% | 81.8–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.4% | 53.2–63.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.3% | 60.7–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.4–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.0–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 27.2–37.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 25.8–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 20.5–27.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.0% | 16.5–21.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.9% | 33.8–44.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.0–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.2–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.2% | 22.9–31.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 15.0–22.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.0–12.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.1–16.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 30.1–41.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 47.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 39.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $184,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $782 | $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 at birth | 74.1 yr ± 3.18 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 75.4 yr (72.7–79.0) n=405 |
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 3.18 years of 74.1, 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