ZIP code
38878
in Vardaman, MississippiPopulation 2,449
41.75/ 100
Ranked #25,437 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #189 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
Fiber broadband
99.5%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
6.2 ppb
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US93rdDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
16%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$42,472
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST30thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Vardaman, Mississippi (ZIP 38878) lands in the bottom 21% nationally (25,437th) and the top 47% of Mississippi (189th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: fiber broadband sits in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Set against that, lead in tap water lies in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled humid heat stands in the top 10.9% nationally. Modeled uninsured rests in the top 9.2% nationally, and poverty registers in the top 12.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability resides in the top 12.6% nationally, and transportation settles in the top 13.0% nationally. Modeled food insecurity is in the top 13.4% nationally, and household income sits in the bottom 7.3% nationally.
Put simply, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. On the overall standing, ZIP 39744, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 91%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
“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 91.1 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 26.3 — 65 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,404 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
38850
Mississippishares a border
Score 35.00
Closest healthier
39744
Mississippishares a border
Score 43.86
Similar health profile
78067
Texas98% similar profile
Score 36.14
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 | 31.4% | 27.8–35.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.8% | 40.2–49.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.0% | 16.8–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.1–18.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 35.1–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.4% | 31.4–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.2–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.0% | 13.5–19.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.0–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 76.3–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.1–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.4% | 54.1–64.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 62.8–78.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 10.6–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.6% | 15.7–21.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.7% | 30.5–41.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.0% | 31.6–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.5% | 24.0–31.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.6–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.0–21.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.8% | 35.8–45.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.6% | 17.9–23.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.0% | 24.2–32.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.4–26.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.2% | 31.1–41.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 47.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 15.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 34.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $42,472 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $75,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $445 | $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 | 74.0 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 74.0, 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