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ZIP code

39759

in Starkville, MississippiPopulation 42,783

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

50.30/ 100

Ranked #15,836 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)

Ranked #43 of 406 Mississippi ZIPs (top 10.6%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

$0

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Subsidized affordable housing

528 units

in the top 4.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

45.8%

in the bottom 7.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST7th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

26.1%

in the top 9.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST70th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

32.3%

in the bottom 7.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST2nd
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 10.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US89th
Definition & 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 ›

Physician access

1.2 per 1,000 residents

in the top 14.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US85th
Definition & 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 ›

Coronary heart disease

5.8%

in the bottom 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US20th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.

Full methodology ›

Radon

1.1 pCi/L

in the bottom 28% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US28th
Definition & 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 ›

Hearing disability

6.5%

in the bottom 24% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US24th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.

Full methodology ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, Starkville, Mississippi (ZIP 39759) ranks in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,836th) and the top 10.6% of Mississippi (43rd).

continue reading

The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 4.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 3.0% nationally, homeownership is in the bottom 7.1% nationally, and poverty stands in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled disaster risk settles in the top 10.8% nationally, transportation lies in the top 11.1% nationally, and humid heat resides in the top 12.6% nationally.

Compared with the ZIPs it borders, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 39762, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 73%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 68%

14%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 51%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 32%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 14%

13%

Disability

healthier than 38%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 20%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 95%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 71%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 88%

11%

Disability

healthier than 86%

7%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 47%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 33%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 18%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 34%

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 ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults24.3%21.8–26.8
High blood pressure among adults37.1%33.7–40.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults5.7%5.1–6.2
Current asthma among adults9.9%8.8–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults5.8%5.2–6.3
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.8%6.1–7.5
Depression among adults20.1%17.3–23.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.0%10.5–13.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.3%28.9–35.8
Obesity among adults36.1%30.6–41.9
Stroke among adults3.5%3.3–3.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years18.5%15.5–21.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.3%8.8–11.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.3%73.0–77.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.2%75.8–82.3
Cholesterol screening among adults82.0%79.9–84.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.4%57.5–67.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults8.8%7.5–10.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.2%67.8–81.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.5%12.8–18.4
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.5%11.7–15.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults28.7%24.9–32.8
Short sleep duration among adults36.5%31.3–41.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.5%18.2–22.9
Frequent mental distress among adults18.2%16.1–20.3
Frequent physical distress among adults12.5%11.1–14.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults18.0%16.1–20.1
Any disability among adults34.5%30.7–38.6
Hearing disability among adults6.5%5.8–7.3
Independent living disability among adults10.1%9.1–11.2
Mobility disability among adults14.6%13.0–16.3
Self-care disability among adults4.4%4.1–4.8
Vision disability among adults6.5%5.9–7.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults26.0%22.7–29.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults20.4%17.8–22.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults13.0%11.2–14.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.6%13.7–17.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults12.7%11.3–14.1
Loneliness among adults36.3%31.8–40.8
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults10.9%9.6–12.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MS median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate26.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36419.9% (8.3–37.0%) n=406
Uninsured 18–649.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28616.8% (8.1–29.3%) n=410
No HS diploma (25+)8.3%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50514.4% (5.9–25.0%) n=411
Bachelor's or higher (25+)50.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50518.0% (7.1–33.6%) n=411
Unemployment rate (16+)5.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.8% (0.0–14.2%) n=411
Households without a vehicle4.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3225.5% (0.0–13.9%) n=405
Broadband subscription85.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32279.7% (62.7–93.0%) n=405
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)34.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.7% (9.7–36.0%) n=405
Homeownership rate45.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.2% (49.8–91.7%) n=405
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.4% (0.0–5.0%) n=405
Foreign-born population5.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.6% (0.0–4.4%) n=412
Single-parent households47.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08746.9% (29.2–61.4%) n=404
Population 65+12.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.8% (11.7–26.2%) n=412
Median age29.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29239.5 yr (30.5–49.6) n=411
Median household income$46,398$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$50,353 ($32,100–$72,379) n=377
Median home value$256,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$118,100 ($72,660–$219,420) n=374
Median gross rent$922$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$827 ($532–$1,130) n=319
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MS median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth77.8 yr ± 0.5878.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30875.4 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 0.58 years of 77.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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