ZIP code
64503
in St. Joseph, MissouriPopulation 11,954
36.95/ 100
Ranked #28,554 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.0%)
Ranked #803 of 993 Missouri ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #28 of 31 St. Joseph, MO-KS ZIPs (bottom 9.7%)
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.
Cognitive disability
21%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Obesity
44.3%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.8 pCi/L
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
76 intersections/sq mi
in the top 14.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
27.6 days/year
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 64503, one of several in St. Joseph, Missouri, overall, ranks in the bottom 11.0% nationally (28,554th) and the bottom 19% of Missouri (803rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 14.2% nationally, and walkability registers in the top 14.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled cognitive disability resides in the top 6.0% nationally, obesity settles in the top 5.6% nationally, and radon is in the top 14.8% nationally. Modeled independent living disability sits in the top 13.2% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 14.8% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lies in the top 14.9% nationally, and short sleep stands in the top 14.4% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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 64505, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 22%
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 74.3 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $53,039 predicts 77.6 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,417 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.3 ± 1.3 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.7 years — 4.3 years below them.
Ranked #3,161 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
64501
Missourishares a border
Score 36.01
Closest healthier
64505
Missourishares a border
Score 45.01
Similar health profile
64129
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 34.90
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 | 30.4% | 27.4–33.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.7–42.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 26.4% | 22.9–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.5–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.3% | 38.1–50.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.0% | 16.8–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 10.0–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 74.0–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.4% | 73.8–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.5% | 79.3–83.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.5% | 56.6–66.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.8% | 50.2–57.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.5% | 64.9–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.0–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.4% | 18.7–24.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.9% | 30.6–39.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 35.1–46.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.9% | 22.9–28.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.0% | 18.9–23.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.4% | 37.2–45.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 16.8–21.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 16.9–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 16.7–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.2–17.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 26.6–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.3% (3.2–26.0%) n=1,009 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.2% (3.5–28.4%) n=1,006 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.5% (2.5–20.5%) n=1,009 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.1% (7.2–40.2%) n=1,009 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.9% (0.0–8.5%) n=1,003 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–11.9%) n=1,009 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.3% (72.7–95.2%) n=1,009 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.7% (8.4–33.9%) n=1,009 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.4% (56.0–94.3%) n=1,009 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.1%) n=1,009 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.4%) n=1,010 |
| Single-parent households | 52.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (39.5–75.6%) n=1,005 |
| Population 65+ | 17.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (11.7–31.1%) n=1,010 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.3–55.9) n=1,005 |
| Median household income | $53,039 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,740 ($42,457–$95,231) n=948 |
| Median home value | $140,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $174,150 ($91,880–$309,500) n=930 |
| Median gross rent | $886 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $813 ($553–$1,265) n=786 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.3 yr ± 0.66 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.6 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 0.66 years of 74.3, 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