ZIP code
39701
in Columbus, MississippiPopulation 11,958
31.92/ 100
Ranked #30,329 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.5%)
Ranked #334 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Self-care disability
8.4%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.2%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
14.8%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
20.6%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
6.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Mobility disability
25%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
27.7%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
50.9%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
ZIP 39701, one of several in Columbus, Mississippi, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 5.5% nationally (30,329th) and the bottom 18% of Mississippi (334th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled self-care disability settles in the top 2.1% nationally, vision disability stands in the top 3.0% nationally, and independent living disability is in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled diabetes rests in the top 3.0% nationally, distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum, and modeled stroke registers in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lands in the top 3.5% nationally, and tooth loss resides in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 2.6% nationally. On the encouraging side, childcare settles in the top 2.1% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 35447, 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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 74.4 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $32,599 predicts 75.7 years — 1.3 years below.
Ranked #1,617 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.3 years.
Ranked #1,484 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35447
Alabamashares a border
Score 35.37
Closest healthier
39702
Mississippishares a border
Score 42.51
Similar health profile
38645
Mississippi99% similar profile
Score 29.76
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 | 31.0% | 27.8–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 50.9% | 47.0–54.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 16.5–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 20.6% | 18.2–22.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 34.0–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.7% | 37.0–50.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 27.7% | 23.4–32.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.3% | 12.1–16.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.9–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.8–85.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.0–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.3% | 56.2–66.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 6.5% | 5.4–7.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 69.4–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.7% | 8.8–13.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.0% | 18.2–23.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 42.0% | 37.1–46.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.5% | 38.9–50.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 32.6% | 29.2–36.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.6% | 19.2–24.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.6% | 41.0–50.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.2–16.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 25.0% | 22.4–27.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.4% | 28.6–36.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 36.4% | 32.6–40.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.8% | 24.5–31.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.4% | 22.5–28.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.1% | 34.5–44.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 34.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 19.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 16.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405 |
| Homeownership rate | 42.9% | 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 | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412 |
| Single-parent households | 42.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 46.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 23.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412 |
| Median age | 45.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411 |
| Median household income | $32,599 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377 |
| Median home value | $117,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374 |
| Median gross rent | $834 | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 0.64 | 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 0.64 years of 74.4, 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