ZIP code
70359
in Gray, LouisianaPopulation 10,038
37.31/ 100
Ranked #28,380 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.5%)
Ranked #301 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #10 of 21 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA ZIPs (top 48%)
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
9.3 µg/L
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
44.6%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.3%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Obesity
46%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
148.5 days/year
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.5 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
14.1%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
26.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.4%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Gray, Louisiana (ZIP 70359) lands in the bottom 11.5% nationally (28,380th) and the bottom 41% of Louisiana (301st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and modeled radon registers in the bottom 0.2% nationally. Against that, modeled short sleep sits in the top 3.6% nationally, and cognitive disability rests in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the top 3.1% nationally, humid heat stands in the top 5.1% nationally, and utility shutoff settles in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled food insecurity lies in the top 9.0% nationally, industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 9.3% nationally, and transportation lands in the top 10.1% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 70301, 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 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 1%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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 74.2 ± 2.5 years. A median household income of $56,121 predicts 77.8 years — 3.6 years below.
Ranked #4,784 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70301
Louisianashares a border
Score 43.32
Closest healthier
70360
Louisianashares a border
Score 49.58
Similar health profile
70633
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 41.51
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 | 29.6% | 27.2–32.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.9% | 38.8–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 29.2% | 26.2–32.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.4–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.0% | 40.9–51.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.4% | 17.8–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.7–11.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 74.0–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.8–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.9% | 82.1–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.1% | 57.2–65.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.6% | 50.6–56.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 70.9–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.5% | 19.2–24.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.3% | 31.6–39.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.6% | 40.2–49.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.2% | 24.7–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.2% | 20.3–24.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.5–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.3% | 19.5–23.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.7% | 37.0–44.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.8–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.7% | 27.5–34.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.7% | 24.1–29.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.0% | 20.4–25.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.1% | 33.2–41.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 37.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 10.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 33.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $56,121 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $153,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $1,123 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $915 ($606–$1,325) n=389 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.2 yr ± 1.30 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 75.9 yr (73.2–79.0) n=494 |
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 1.30 years of 74.2, 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