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ZIP code

70615

in Lake Charles, LouisianaPopulation 12,980

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

32.99/ 100

Ranked #30,046 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 6.3%)

Ranked #387 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 24%)

Ranked #22 of 25 Lake Charles, LA ZIPs (bottom 12.0%)

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.

Obesity

49.1%

in the top 1.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Arsenic in groundwater

1.0%

in the bottom 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST13th
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.

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 ›

Utility shut-off threat

19.2%

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

52.5%

in the top 3.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST72nd
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Short sleep

44.1%

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

21.4%

in the top 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST76th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

9.3%

in the top 4.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST83rd
US96th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.

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 ›

Self-care disability

7.0%

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST78th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

32.9%

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

16.6%

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

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.

Health need and barriers to care documented here

On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.

These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.

Health need documented here

  • People living in poverty
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing insecurity
  • Adults reporting fair or poor health
  • Chronic conditions

Barriers to reaching care

  • Thin local supply of doctors
  • Thin local supply of pharmacies
  • Households with no vehicle

A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.

See the full care-deserts analysis →

The read

ZIP 70615, one of several in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 6.3% nationally (30,046th) and the bottom 24% of Louisiana (387th).

continue reading

What the data shows most clearly about this place comes first: modeled obesity lands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled utility shutoff resides in the top 3.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure lies in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled short sleep settles in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled cognitive disability stands in the top 5.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 4.1% nationally. Modeled self-care disability rests in the top 5.9% nationally, and food insecurity sits in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled transportation registers in the top 4.5% nationally. More positively, modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 2.7% nationally.

Set against the neighboring ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 70601, 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 Lake Charles, LA metro area.

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

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 82%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 59%

14%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 17%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 4%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 39%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 10%

8%

Disability

healthier than 8%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 2%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 74%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 15%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 39%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 20%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 10%

11%

Disability

healthier than 29%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 30%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 96%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 46%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 54%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 25%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.00%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 17%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 4%

11%

Disability

healthier than 17%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 38%

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 72.5 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $40,047 predicts 76.5 years — 4.0 years below.

    Ranked #5,044 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 72.5 ± 1.8 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.5 years — 4.0 years below them.

    Ranked #3,017 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.

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 adults30.2%27.2–33.3
High blood pressure among adults47.2%43.4–51.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults6.1%5.5–6.8
Current asthma among adults11.1%9.8–12.5
Coronary heart disease among adults7.9%7.1–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.7%8.6–10.8
Depression among adults26.3%22.9–29.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults18.0%16.0–20.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.1%34.5–42.0
Obesity among adults49.1%43.3–55.2
Stroke among adults5.2%4.8–5.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years23.7%20.3–27.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years11.0%9.3–12.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.7%75.1–80.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults81.5%78.4–84.4
Cholesterol screening among adults83.8%81.8–85.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years65.4%61.0–70.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults49.0%45.7–52.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.9%71.7–83.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.6%13.0–18.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults21.7%19.0–24.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults39.7%35.3–44.5
Short sleep duration among adults44.1%39.1–49.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults30.5%27.5–33.9
Frequent mental distress among adults20.9%18.7–23.3
Frequent physical distress among adults16.7%14.8–18.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults21.4%19.2–24.0
Any disability among adults43.6%39.4–47.9
Hearing disability among adults7.6%6.8–8.5
Independent living disability among adults12.8%11.5–14.4
Mobility disability among adults20.6%18.4–23.0
Self-care disability among adults7.0%6.4–7.7
Vision disability among adults9.2%8.4–10.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults32.5%28.7–36.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults32.9%29.7–36.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults31.5%28.5–34.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults23.7%21.1–26.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults16.6%14.9–18.4
Loneliness among adults38.6%34.2–43.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults19.2%17.1–21.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)LA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate28.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36417.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504
Uninsured 18–6412.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505
No HS diploma (25+)13.4%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50514.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508
Bachelor's or higher (25+)14.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50516.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508
Unemployment rate (16+)13.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2745.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501
Households without a vehicle12.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3226.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504
Broadband subscription84.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32284.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)26.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504
Homeownership rate61.6%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504
Foreign-born population1.7%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508
Single-parent households49.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495
Population 65+15.2%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508
Median age38.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29239.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500
Median household income$40,047$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457
Median home value$140,400$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452
Median gross rent$1,099$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$915 ($606–$1,325) n=389
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)LA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth72.5 yr ± 0.9478.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30875.9 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 0.94 years of 72.5, 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