ZIP code
38655
in Oxford, MississippiPopulation 46,156
54.79/ 100
Ranked #9,713 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #19 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 4.7%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
277 units
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
47%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
5.5%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
111.4 days/year
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.61 per 1,000 residents
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
47%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.63 per 1,000 residents
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Oxford, Mississippi (ZIP 38655) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,713th) and the top 4.7% of Mississippi (19th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 8.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 11.6% nationally, modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and physicians registers in the top 12.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers stands in the top 15% nationally. Set against that, modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 1.3% nationally, and disaster risk lands in the top 6.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Close by, ZIP 38949, just across the boundary, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.8 ± 1.5 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.3 years — 2.6 years above them.
Ranked #1,088 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
38601
Mississippishares a border
Score 45.56
Closest healthier
38949
Mississippishares a border
Score 55.57
Similar health profile
39402
Mississippi98% similar profile
Score 53.37
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 | 23.9% | 21.2–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.0% | 30.4–37.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.2–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 30.9–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.9% | 27.7–40.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.3% | 11.8–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.4–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.7–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 81.6–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.6% | 59.9–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 11.9% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 68.8–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 14.5–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.3% | 22.5–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.7% | 28.3–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.7–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 28.7–36.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 21.4–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 30.4–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.4% | 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 | 3.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 32.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $68,235 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $340,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $1,090 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 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