ZIP code
70661
in Starks, LouisianaPopulation 1,861
29.42/ 100
Ranked #30,878 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 3.8%)
Ranked #437 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 14.0%)
Ranked #24 of 25 Lake Charles, LA ZIPs (bottom 4.0%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
96.7 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.46 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
43.8%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
16%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.4%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
46.6%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$24,917
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
17.9%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
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 flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →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 →
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
- 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
- Limited home internet for telehealth
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
In overall standing, Starks, Louisiana (ZIP 70661) comes out in the bottom 3.8% nationally (30,878th) and the bottom 14.0% of Louisiana (437th).
The clearest local signals in the data come through up front: fatal road crashes resides in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 1.5% nationally, and poverty lies in the top 2.4% nationally. Unemployment sits in the top 3.3% nationally, modeled cognitive disability settles in the top 5.1% nationally, and floodplain exposure registers in the top 4.7% nationally. Household income stands in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and households without a vehicle lands in the top 5.4% nationally. On the brighter side, grocery is in the top 1.8% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 2.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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". The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 70633, 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70633
Louisianashares a border
Score 41.51
Closest healthier
70653
Louisianashares a border
Score 38.03
Similar health profile
70372
Louisiana99% similar profile
Score 30.21
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 | 37.1% | 34.0–40.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.6% | 44.0–51.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.8 |
| Depression among adults | 30.2% | 26.8–33.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.1% | 40.3–47.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.8% | 39.3–50.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.0% | 20.6–27.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.8–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.6–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.5–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.1–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.6% | 57.5–65.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.4% | 48.2–54.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.9% | 65.5–78.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.6–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 23.8% | 21.0–26.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 39.5% | 35.0–43.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.9% | 33.7–42.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.3% | 27.1–33.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.5–22.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.1–23.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 46.0% | 41.8–50.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.8% | 20.4–25.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.6% | 23.5–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.5–26.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.9% | 19.2–25.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 31.0–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 43.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 16.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 58.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 28.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 51.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $24,917 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $83,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $403 | $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 | 73.6 yr ± 1.25 | 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 1.25 years of 73.6, 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