ZIP code
65265
in Mexico, MissouriPopulation 15,153
41.09/ 100
Ranked #25,962 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #636 of 993 Missouri ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
140 µg/L
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
7.5%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.8 mi
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Mexico, Missouri (ZIP 65265) ranks in the bottom 19% nationally (25,962nd) and the bottom 36% of Missouri (636th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: lithium in drinking water lands in the top 1.3% nationally, and distance to an emergency room settles in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability rests in the top 10.3% nationally, and hearing disability lands in the top 12.7% nationally. Modeled independent living disability settles in the top 13.9% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled pfas rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally, and physicians lands in the top 9.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pharmacy rests in the top 11.8% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 63352, 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.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
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 ›
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 76.3 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $56,969 predicts 77.9 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,964 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 76.3 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.7 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,838 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
63352
Missourishares a border
Score 43.73
Closest healthier
63462
Missourishares a border
Score 43.41
Similar health profile
63764
Missouri100% similar profile
Score 39.69
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 | 33.5% | 30.1–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.7–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.3% | 21.7–29.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 33.8–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.7–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 16.2–23.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.9% | 8.5–11.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.0–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.1–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.6–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.4% | 54.9–65.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.2% | 50.3–58.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 63.8–79.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.3–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.4% | 16.9–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.0% | 30.1–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 33.0–47.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.3% | 22.3–28.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 16.8–21.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–21.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.1% | 37.6–46.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 17.9–22.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.4–23.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.8–36.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MO median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.3% (3.2–26.0%) n=1,009 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.2% (3.5–28.4%) n=1,006 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.5% (2.5–20.5%) n=1,009 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 18.1% (7.2–40.2%) n=1,009 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.9% (0.0–8.5%) n=1,003 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–11.9%) n=1,009 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.3% (72.7–95.2%) n=1,009 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.7% (8.4–33.9%) n=1,009 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.4% (56.0–94.3%) n=1,009 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–5.1%) n=1,009 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.4%) n=1,010 |
| Single-parent households | 51.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (39.5–75.6%) n=1,005 |
| Population 65+ | 20.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.2% (11.7–31.1%) n=1,010 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.3–55.9) n=1,005 |
| Median household income | $56,969 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,740 ($42,457–$95,231) n=948 |
| Median home value | $152,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $174,150 ($91,880–$309,500) n=930 |
| Median gross rent | $693 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 76.3, 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