ZIP code
38826
in Belden, MississippiPopulation 5,894
55.58/ 100
Ranked #8,767 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #15 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 3.7%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
56.6 mi
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
51 µg/L
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Energy-cost burden
2.4%
in the bottom 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS21stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Radon
1.1 pCi/L
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
32.5%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
10.6%
in the bottom 29% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS29thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
7.6%
in the bottom 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS32ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Belden, Mississippi (ZIP 38826) lands in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,767th) and the top 3.7% of Mississippi (15th).
Taken together, the profile's clearest strengths surface right away: distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 9.7% nationally, and fiber broadband settles in the top 13.8% nationally. Lead in tap water lies in the bottom 18% nationally. Against that, modeled humid heat resides in the top 13.7% nationally, lithium in drinking water lands in the top 14.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 18% nationally. Fatal road crashes sits in the top 19% nationally, and modeled loneliness rests in the top 19% nationally. Childcare is at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 20% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. This ZIP stands out as the strongest overall among its immediate neighbors.
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 72%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
“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 79.8 ± 1.9 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.4 years — 3.4 years above them.
Ranked #618 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
38801
Mississippishares a border
Score 49.04
Similar health profile
38651
Mississippi98% similar profile
Score 54.39
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 | 28.9% | 26.3–31.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 39.6–46.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.1–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 16.6–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 36.5–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 29.5–38.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 9.0–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 78.2–82.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 79.4–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.3–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 63.9–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.2% | 69.2–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 25.3–32.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 28.2–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.6–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 29.4–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.2% | 23.4–29.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 32.1–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 59.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 34.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $75,862 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $253,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $1,102 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.97 | 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 0.97 years of 79.8, 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