ZIP code
70743
in Hester, LouisianaPopulation 654
45.45/ 100
Ranked #21,934 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #108 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #25 of 67 New Orleans-Metairie, LA ZIPs (top 37%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
78.5%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
22%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.4%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$138,879
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
0.43%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
153.1 days/year
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Hester, Louisiana (ZIP 70743) sits in the bottom 32% nationally (21,934th) and the top 21% of Louisiana (108th).
A few readings account for most of this area's strain: outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise stands in the top 3.1% nationally, humid heat resides in the top 3.9% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 4.5% nationally. On the better side, poverty stands at the national minimum, and home broadband subscription resides at the national maximum. Household income sits in the top 5.3% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 3.8% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 70763, 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70090
Louisianashares a border
Score 43.80
Closest healthier
70763
Louisianashares a border
Score 49.47
Similar health profile
17101
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 45.71
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 | 29.5% | 25.9–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.1% | 33.5–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 28.7% | 24.4–33.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 33.6–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 31.9–48.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 7.9–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 4.8–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.3–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 75.9–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.7% | 83.8–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.2% | 61.7–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.1% | 56.1–64.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 68.5–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.0% | 18.3–26.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.4% | 14.2–22.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 21.9–32.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 31.2–46.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 16.8–24.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 16.4–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.0–20.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 28.5–39.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.2–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.9% | 21.7–30.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 10.5–18.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 8.3–14.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 8.8–13.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.1–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.0–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 17.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 9.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 37.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $138,879 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $194,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 74.0 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 74.0, 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