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ZIP code

70663

in Sulphur, LouisianaPopulation 27,799

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

38.41/ 100

Ranked #27,776 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 13.4%)

Ranked #273 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 46%)

Ranked #15 of 25 Lake Charles, LA ZIPs (bottom 40%)

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.

Air-toxics cancer risk

59.8 per million

in the top 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

14.4%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US97th
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 ›

Humid extreme heat

149.4 days/year

in the top 4.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST75th
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 9.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US91st
Definition & 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 ›

Radon

0.7 pCi/L

in the bottom 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST47th
US3rd
Definition & 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 ›

Lithium in drinking water

32 µg/L

in the top 29% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US71st
Definition & 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 ›

The read

ZIP 70663, one of several in Sulphur, Louisiana, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 13.4% nationally (27,776th) and the bottom 46% of Louisiana (273rd).

continue reading

The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 0.4% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 0.4% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled humid heat lies in the top 4.9% nationally, disaster risk sits in the top 8.1% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 9.5% nationally. Floodplain exposure registers in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability stands in the top 12.1% nationally. More encouragingly, distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled radon is in the bottom 2.7% nationally.

Held up against its neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 70611, 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

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 47%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 54%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 37%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 34%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 1%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 9%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 24%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 10%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 65%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 71%

16%

Disability

healthier than 63%

7%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 49%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 60%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 41%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 3%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 31%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 28%

8%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 75%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 71%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 58%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 50%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 50%

11%

Disability

healthier than 54%

7%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 4%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 33%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 33%

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

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 74.4 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $64,707 predicts 78.4 years — 3.9 years below.

    Ranked #5,020 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Highest-risk tenth

    Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale

    Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 59.8 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.1 years.

    Ranked #47 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, 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 adults30.9%27.8–33.9
High blood pressure among adults41.0%37.2–44.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.4%7.6–9.2
Current asthma among adults10.2%9.0–11.5
Coronary heart disease among adults7.6%6.9–8.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.2%8.2–10.3
Depression among adults29.6%26.0–33.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.6%11.9–15.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.6%35.8–43.6
Obesity among adults42.1%36.3–48.1
Stroke among adults4.1%3.8–4.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years15.3%12.7–18.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.0%7.7–10.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.5%74.7–80.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.9%76.7–82.9
Cholesterol screening among adults84.9%83.0–86.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.1%61.6–70.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults56.5%53.0–60.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.6%70.1–82.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.9%15.2–21.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.9%16.5–21.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults33.7%29.5–37.9
Short sleep duration among adults37.6%32.9–43.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults24.4%21.7–27.2
Frequent mental distress among adults19.9%17.7–22.1
Frequent physical distress among adults15.8%14.0–17.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults19.4%17.3–21.5
Any disability among adults40.1%35.9–44.2
Hearing disability among adults8.9%7.9–10.0
Independent living disability among adults10.4%9.3–11.6
Mobility disability among adults17.1%15.2–19.2
Self-care disability among adults4.8%4.4–5.2
Vision disability among adults6.2%5.7–6.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults26.6%23.4–30.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults19.5%17.2–22.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults16.5%14.6–18.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults13.9%12.3–15.9
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults10.1%9.0–11.4
Loneliness among adults35.7%31.3–40.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults10.3%9.1–11.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)LA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate15.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36417.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504
Uninsured 18–646.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505
No HS diploma (25+)9.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50514.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508
Bachelor's or higher (25+)18.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50516.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508
Unemployment rate (16+)4.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2745.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501
Households without a vehicle5.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3226.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504
Broadband subscription83.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32284.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504
Homeownership rate80.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504
Crowded housing (>1 per room)3.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504
Foreign-born population2.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508
Single-parent households48.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495
Population 65+16.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508
Median age38.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29239.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500
Median household income$64,707$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457
Median home value$180,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452
Median gross rent$908$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 birth74.4 yr ± 0.5878.9 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 0.58 years of 74.4, 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