ZIP code
70669
in Westlake, LouisianaPopulation 9,552
40.43/ 100
Ranked #26,457 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #206 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #11 of 25 Lake Charles, LA ZIPs (top 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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
65.3 per million
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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
16.6%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
45.4%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
145.8 days/year
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.8 mi
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
93.6%
in the top 12.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is 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 humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Westlake, Louisiana (ZIP 70669) ranks in the bottom 17% nationally (26,457th) and the top 41% of Louisiana (206th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 0.3% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 0.6% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 2.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure stands in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the top 5.8% nationally, distance to a Superfund site resides in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and fatal road crashes stands in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. More positively, modeled radon resides in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 12.0% nationally.
Against its neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.05%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
“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 74.1 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $69,106 predicts 78.6 years — 4.5 years below.
Ranked #5,334 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 65.3 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.1 ± 1.3 years.
Ranked #35 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
70601
Louisianashares a border
Score 33.66
Closest healthier
70605
Louisianashares a border
Score 52.72
Similar health profile
72364
Arkansas96% similar profile
Score 44.38
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 | 30.1% | 27.0–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 36.8–44.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 28.2% | 24.6–31.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 35.5–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.9% | 35.2–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 11.0–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.6–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.2–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.2–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.1–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.1% | 65.7–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 56.5–63.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.5–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.2–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.6% | 27.3–36.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.3% | 32.5–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.2% | 19.4–25.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 16.8–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.8% | 33.6–42.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.7–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.0% | 23.6–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.6–19.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.2–15.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 31.4–40.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 55.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 20.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $69,106 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $172,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $1,075 | $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 | 74.1 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 74.1, 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