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ZipVitals

ZIP code

64459

in Helena, MissouriPopulation 507

51.02/ 100

Ranked #14,818 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)

Ranked #157 of 993 Missouri ZIPs (top 16%)

Ranked #11 of 31 St. Joseph, MO-KS ZIPs (top 35%)

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.

Housing-cost burden

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Fiber broadband

98.8%

in the top 5.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Radon

2.8 pCi/L

in the top 13.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US87th
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 ›

Loneliness

28.8%

in the bottom 12.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US12th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

69.6%

in the top 23% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST93rd
US77th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

The read

Helena, Missouri (ZIP 64459), on the composite measure, lands in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,818th) and the top 16% of Missouri (157th).

continue reading

The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: housing-cost burden lies at the national minimum, and fiber broadband settles in the top 5.3% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle is at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 13.1% nationally. Homeownership lands in the top 13.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon resides in the top 13.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 14.3% nationally.

In everyday language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 64436, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 66%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 73%

13%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 59%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 49%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 56%

8%

Disability

healthier than 42%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 44%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 35%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 30%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 65%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 61%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 92%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 86%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 89%

8%

Disability

healthier than 74%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 76%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 53%

21%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 28%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 74%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 63%

14%

Preventive Care

in the top 0.00%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 79%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 63%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 79%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 47%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Disability

healthier than 32%

7%

“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 adults33.2%29.5–37.0
High blood pressure among adults41.0%36.7–45.5
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.1%9.9–12.3
Current asthma among adults10.3%9.0–11.6
Coronary heart disease among adults8.1%7.0–9.3
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.9%7.2–10.6
Depression among adults23.2%19.7–27.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.7%10.8–14.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened41.4%36.9–46.0
Obesity among adults36.0%28.8–43.8
Stroke among adults4.0%3.4–4.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.2%9.6–15.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.2%5.5–9.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.1%77.3–82.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.5%76.1–82.8
Cholesterol screening among adults86.8%84.6–88.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.6%64.3–74.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults63.9%60.2–67.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.0%69.0–83.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.6%12.9–18.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.7%12.6–19.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.9%22.8–33.6
Short sleep duration among adults35.3%28.8–41.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.7%16.3–23.3
Frequent mental distress among adults16.1%14.0–18.4
Frequent physical distress among adults14.9%12.7–17.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults15.9%13.5–18.4
Any disability among adults36.6%31.5–42.2
Hearing disability among adults10.0%8.7–11.4
Independent living disability among adults8.4%7.1–9.9
Mobility disability among adults16.5%13.7–19.4
Self-care disability among adults3.7%3.1–4.4
Vision disability among adults4.6%3.9–5.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults18.8%15.6–22.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.2%7.9–13.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.6%5.7–10.0
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.0%7.2–11.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.4–7.9
Loneliness among adults28.8%24.2–34.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.5–8.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MO median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate7.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36412.3% (3.2–26.0%) n=1,009
Uninsured 18–6413.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28613.2% (3.5–28.4%) n=1,006
No HS diploma (25+)10.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.5% (2.5–20.5%) n=1,009
Bachelor's or higher (25+)31.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50518.1% (7.2–40.2%) n=1,009
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.9% (0.0–8.5%) n=1,003
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.1% (0.0–11.9%) n=1,009
Broadband subscription78.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.3% (72.7–95.2%) n=1,009
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)0.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32220.7% (8.4–33.9%) n=1,009
Homeownership rate91.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32279.4% (56.0–94.3%) n=1,009
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–5.1%) n=1,009
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.8% (0.0–6.4%) n=1,010
Single-parent households40.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.0% (39.5–75.6%) n=1,005
Population 65+19.5%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.2% (11.7–31.1%) n=1,010
Median age46.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.5 yr (33.3–55.9) n=1,005
Median household income$78,808$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$61,740 ($42,457–$95,231) n=948
Median home value$170,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$174,150 ($91,880–$309,500) n=930
Median gross rent$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$813 ($553–$1,265) n=786
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MO median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth80.1 yr ± 1.6978.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30877.6 yr (74.6–81.0) n=995

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 1.69 years of 80.1, 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