ZIP code
71270
in Ruston, LouisianaPopulation 32,885
39.10/ 100
Ranked #27,327 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.8%)
Ranked #248 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (top 49%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
21.3%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
34.7%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
16.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
15.6%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
416 units
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
12.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 71270, one of several in Ruston, Louisiana, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 14.8% nationally (27,327th) and the top 49% of Louisiana (248th).
The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: modeled disaster risk settles in the top 1.2% nationally, modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 5.3% nationally, and poverty stands in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 4.7% nationally, transportation is in the top 5.5% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 6.2% nationally. More encouragingly, lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 5.6% nationally, and mental-health providers settles in the top 6.2% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 71227, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
“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
71226
Louisianashares a border
Score 34.58
Closest healthier
71227
Louisianashares a border
Score 44.87
Similar health profile
02721
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 40.07
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 | 27.3% | 24.7–30.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.1% | 37.4–45.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 28.3% | 24.7–32.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 31.8–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.2% | 37.3–52.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.0% | 17.7–24.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.9% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.5–78.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.2–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.2% | 80.0–84.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 59.7–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.8% | 50.0–57.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 69.0–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.7% | 13.9–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.6% | 28.5–37.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.4% | 36.1–48.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.0% | 24.4–30.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.7% | 19.5–24.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.3% | 19.3–23.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.4% | 37.3–46.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.6–14.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.7–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.4% | 24.8–32.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.5% | 25.7–31.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.7% | 25.3–30.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 18.2–22.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 14.1–17.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.1% | 32.3–42.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 34.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 45.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 28.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $36,791 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $222,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $827 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 76.7, 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