ZIP code
70665
in Sulphur, LouisianaPopulation 13,222
43.25/ 100
Ranked #24,161 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #152 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #8 of 25 Lake Charles, LA ZIPs (top 32%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
44.6 per million
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
70.6%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.00%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
14.3%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & 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
151.2 days/year
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
10.9%
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS31stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
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
In overall standing, ZIP 70665, one of several in Sulphur, Louisiana comes out in the bottom 25% nationally (24,161st) and the top 30% of Louisiana (152nd).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 0.9% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 1.5% nationally, and floodplain exposure registers in the top 1.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 2.7% nationally, modeled humid heat lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 8.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and radon sits 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. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 70605, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
3 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 75.2 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $86,573 predicts 79.5 years — 4.3 years below.
Ranked #5,253 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 4.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 61.4 — 57 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,126 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 44.6 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 75.2 ± 2.0 years.
Ranked #296 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.
Nearby
70605
Louisianashares a border
Score 52.72
Closest healthier
70645
Louisianashares a border
Score 47.73
Similar health profile
70778
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 46.35
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 | 28.2% | 25.2–31.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.5% | 33.8–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 29.1% | 25.6–33.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 34.7–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 33.9–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 8.9–13.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.4–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 72.9–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.7–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.4–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 61.5–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.9% | 57.5–64.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 70.7–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.3–22.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.1% | 14.6–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 25.7–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 31.7–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.0–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 31.9–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 22.7–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.4–18.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.1–14.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.0–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.8–40.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 41.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 12.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $86,573 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $236,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $1,407 | $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 | 75.2 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 75.2, 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