ZIP code
70556
in Mermentau, LouisianaPopulation 627
34.02/ 100
Ranked #29,728 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 7.3%)
Ranked #368 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #27 of 30 Lafayette, LA ZIPs (bottom 10.0%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
99.9%
in the top 0.10% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
38.5%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
16.3%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
25.7%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
146.1 days/year
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
22.6%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.3 mi
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
20%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Mermentau, Louisiana (ZIP 70556), overall, ranks in the bottom 7.3% nationally (29,728th) and the bottom 28% of Louisiana (368th).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: floodplain exposure lands in the top 0.10% nationally, home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and unemployment stands in the top 3.1% nationally. Modeled tooth loss rests in the top 6.5% nationally, humid heat registers in the top 5.7% nationally, and mobility disability resides in the top 7.8% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure settles in the top 7.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability sits in the top 9.4% nationally. On the better side, modeled expected annual loss lands in the bottom 8.3% nationally.
Defined simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 70546, 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 Lafayette, 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 83%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70546
Louisianashares a border
Score 36.86
Closest healthier
70559
Louisianashares a border
Score 35.22
Similar health profile
71401
Louisiana99% similar profile
Score 36.44
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 | 36.6% | 32.9–40.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.0% | 42.7–51.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.5% | 9.7–13.5 |
| Depression among adults | 29.7% | 25.8–33.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.3% | 15.1–19.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.2% | 37.8–46.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 32.9–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 25.7% | 21.8–30.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.4–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.1% | 79.6–84.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.5% | 79.4–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 84.9–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.7% | 57.6–67.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.7% | 47.0–54.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 67.2–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.2–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.5% | 16.0–23.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.9% | 29.4–40.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.1% | 31.2–43.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 23.7–32.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 17.6–22.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 15.9–21.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.0% | 17.1–22.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 43.5% | 38.2–49.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–14.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.6% | 19.3–25.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.0% | 22.9–31.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.0% | 18.1–26.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.1% | 15.6–22.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.3–17.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.2–12.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.2–40.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 16.3% | 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 | 38.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 81.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 49.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 64.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $117,764 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $55,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $478 | $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 | 79.4 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 79.4, 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