ZIP code
38843
in Fulton, MississippiPopulation 12,303
48.49/ 100
Ranked #18,318 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #62 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 15%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
32.3%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Fulton, Mississippi (ZIP 38843) stands in the bottom 43% nationally (18,318th) and the top 15% of Mississippi (62nd).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband lies in the top 18% nationally, modeled radon is in the bottom 19% nationally, and pharmacy registers in the top 18% nationally. By contrast, modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 7.1% nationally, humid heat is in the top 11.7% nationally, and loneliness registers in the top 14.2% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Set beside the wider area around it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. ZIP 38804, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 68%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.5 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $56,028 predicts 77.8 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,433 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
38804
Mississippishares a border
Score 49.98
Closest healthier
38870
Mississippishares a border
Score 52.72
Similar health profile
39452
Mississippi94% similar profile
Score 45.75
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 | 29.7% | 26.3–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 35.9–44.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 17.7–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.5–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 35.1–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.9% | 28.5–43.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.7% | 11.8–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.4–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.5–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.1–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.1–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 56.5–66.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 10.1% | 8.6–11.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.6% | 65.4–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.2–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.8% | 26.9–36.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 26.3–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.8% | 18.1–23.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 31.8–41.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.4–18.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 22.4–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.1–17.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.5–9.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.8–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.6% | 31.4–41.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 49.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 16.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 36.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $56,028 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $150,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $779 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 74.5, 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