ZIP code
70653
in Merryville, LouisianaPopulation 3,184
38.03/ 100
Ranked #27,996 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.7%)
Ranked #283 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.80%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.33 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Humid extreme heat
148 days/year
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
8.5%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
20.2%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
32.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST55thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
43.3%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
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
Judged by its overall standing, Merryville, Louisiana (ZIP 70653) sits in the bottom 12.7% nationally (27,996th) and the bottom 44% of Louisiana (283rd).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 0.3% nationally, elder services settles in the top 4.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Modeled radon rests in the bottom 3.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled humid heat lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and cognitive disability rests in the top 8.5% nationally. Floodplain exposure settles in the top 8.9% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 9.4% nationally.
Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 70634, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 83.5; chronic-disease standing 15.8 — 68 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,204 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70634
Louisianashares a border
Score 43.80
Closest healthier
70660
Louisianashares a border
Score 42.72
Similar health profile
70732
Louisiana99% similar profile
Score 39.36
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 | 35.2% | 31.8–39.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.5% | 39.6–49.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.1 |
| Depression among adults | 30.0% | 26.2–35.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–18.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.3% | 39.2–49.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.0% | 35.2–51.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.5% | 13.3–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.5–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.4–83.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.2% | 78.2–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.7–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 59.3–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.8% | 51.8–59.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 67.9–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 13.9–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.6% | 18.6–25.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.4% | 28.6–39.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 29.3–42.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.4% | 23.9–31.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.7% | 18.4–23.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.2% | 17.8–23.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.2% | 37.5–48.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.5% | 17.9–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.7% | 23.8–31.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.1% | 17.8–24.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.2–20.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 30.3–40.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.0–11.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 8.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 33.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 41.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $69,318 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $111,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $602 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 1.46 | 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 1.46 years of 74.9, 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