ZIP code
71457
in Natchitoches, LouisianaPopulation 24,370
37.10/ 100
Ranked #28,477 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
Ranked #310 of 508 Louisiana ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
50.2%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
17.4%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
148 days/year
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
421 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 ›Lack of transportation
15.3%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
29.3%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
21.6%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
20.4%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.5%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.5%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›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
Natchitoches, Louisiana (ZIP 71457), overall, ranks in the bottom 11.2% nationally (28,477th) and the bottom 39% of Louisiana (310th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 5.6% nationally. On the other side, floodplain exposure lands in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff lies in the top 4.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat stands in the top 5.2% nationally, and transportation rests in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled food insecurity registers in the top 6.7% nationally, and housing insecurity resides in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the top 7.8% nationally, and self-care disability is in the top 8.5% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. ZIP 71031, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
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
71019
Louisianashares a border
Score 30.40
Closest healthier
71031
Louisianashares a border
Score 41.18
Similar health profile
70512
Louisiana100% similar profile
Score 36.05
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 | 31.7% | 28.4–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.6% | 42.3–50.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 27.2% | 23.4–31.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.5–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.7% | 35.1–50.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.4–23.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.9–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.6–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 79.4–85.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.2–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.3% | 60.1–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.9% | 48.2–55.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 71.5–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.6–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 16.8–21.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.2% | 33.9–46.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.3% | 25.3–31.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.8% | 18.6–23.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.4% | 18.4–22.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.4% | 36.9–45.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.3% | 18.1–22.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.9–9.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.1% | 26.4–34.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 29.3% | 26.5–32.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 28.2% | 25.6–30.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 19.3–24.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.9% | 32.0–42.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.6–19.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | LA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 17.8% (6.0–36.8%) n=504 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.4% (2.9–20.5%) n=505 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 14.0% (4.3–26.4%) n=508 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.6% (5.9–37.1%) n=508 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.5% (0.0–13.6%) n=501 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 6.0% (0.0–15.0%) n=504 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.4% (64.1–94.5%) n=504 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (9.3–41.8%) n=504 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.4% (50.9–92.7%) n=504 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.8%) n=504 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.2% (0.0–7.6%) n=508 |
| Single-parent households | 44.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.0% (29.6–65.8%) n=495 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.3% (10.2–29.0%) n=508 |
| Median age | 35.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.6 yr (33.0–52.4) n=500 |
| Median household income | $46,668 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $56,458 ($34,647–$88,928) n=457 |
| Median home value | $197,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $163,450 ($86,100–$284,620) n=452 |
| Median gross rent | $820 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 76.2, 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