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ZIP code

71234

in Downsville, LouisianaPopulation 5,396

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

44.66/ 100

Ranked #22,750 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)

Ranked #118 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (top 23%)

Ranked #4 of 24 Monroe, LA ZIPs (top 17%)

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.

Home broadband subscription

71.8%

in the bottom 7.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST17th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

133.6 days/year

in the top 8.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US91st
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 ›

Radon

0.8 pCi/L

in the bottom 9.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US9th
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 ›

The read

Downsville, Louisiana (ZIP 71234), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 29% nationally (22,750th) and the top 23% of Louisiana (118th).

continue reading

An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled loud transportation noise settles at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 11.4% nationally, and transportation noise settles in the bottom 12.9% nationally. Modeled radon lands in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and pfas rests in the bottom 14.9% nationally. Against that, home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 7.2% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the top 8.9% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat settles in the top 11.9% nationally.

Defined simply, for reference, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 71225, 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 Monroe, LA metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 93%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 71%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 72%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 43%

16%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 27%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 13%

8%

Disability

healthier than 26%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 13%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 78%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 91%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 70%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 77%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 63%

8%

Disability

healthier than 65%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 68%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 54%

21%

Nothing measured is holding this score back.

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 67%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 86%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 86%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 81%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 76%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 62%

8%

Disability

healthier than 81%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 90%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 57%

5%

Nothing measured is holding this score back.

“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 75.0 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $84,740 predicts 79.4 years — 4.5 years below.

    Ranked #5,309 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Clean environment, heavy chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 93.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 27.2 — 66 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #1,324 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, 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 adults33.3%30.2–36.4
High blood pressure among adults43.2%39.4–46.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.6%8.8–10.4
Current asthma among adults9.9%8.9–11.0
Coronary heart disease among adults8.5%7.5–9.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.8%8.4–11.4
Depression among adults27.8%24.6–31.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.6%12.8–16.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.3%38.5–46.0
Obesity among adults35.1%29.0–41.3
Stroke among adults4.3%3.9–4.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.8%16.7–23.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.4%6.0–9.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.1%77.7–82.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults81.1%78.4–83.6
Cholesterol screening among adults87.4%85.7–89.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.2%62.7–71.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults60.8%57.5–64.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.9%70.3–82.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.7%15.2–20.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.5%15.5–21.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults29.6%25.3–34.2
Short sleep duration among adults36.2%30.9–41.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.4%20.3–26.7
Frequent mental distress among adults18.7%16.8–20.7
Frequent physical distress among adults16.0%14.1–18.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults17.7%15.5–19.9
Any disability among adults37.5%33.2–42.0
Hearing disability among adults9.6%8.5–10.6
Independent living disability among adults9.8%8.6–11.2
Mobility disability among adults17.8%15.4–20.3
Self-care disability among adults4.8%4.2–5.5
Vision disability among adults6.0%5.3–6.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults25.2%22.1–28.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults17.0%14.2–20.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults14.3%11.8–17.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.0%10.2–14.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.6%7.5–9.9
Loneliness among adults33.5%29.5–37.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults9.0%7.8–10.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)LA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate15.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36417.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504
Uninsured 18–648.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28610.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505
No HS diploma (25+)8.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50514.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50516.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508
Unemployment rate (16+)2.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2745.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501
Households without a vehicle1.4%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3226.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504
Broadband subscription71.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32284.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)26.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504
Homeownership rate85.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504
Foreign-born population0.3%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508
Single-parent households47.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495
Population 65+11.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508
Median age32.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29239.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500
Median household income$84,740$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457
Median home value$155,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452
Median gross rent$1,090$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 birth75.0 yr ± 0.9478.9 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 0.94 years of 75.0, 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