ZIP code
71953
in Mena, ArkansasPopulation 13,415
39.73/ 100
Ranked #26,933 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #268 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 48%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.86%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Park land
53.9%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
80%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.5%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
10.3%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.43 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Mena, Arkansas (ZIP 71953) ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (26,933rd) and the top 48% of Arkansas (268th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 0.9% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum. Modeled hearing disability resides in the top 6.5% nationally, and disaster risk registers in the top 6.4% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease rests in the top 7.7% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 0.7% nationally, park land lies in the top 2.1% nationally, and modeled tree cover lands in the top 4.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers is in the top 7.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Close by, ZIP 71960, just across the boundary, ranks 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Disability
healthier than 35%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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 74.3 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $51,969 predicts 77.5 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,377 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
71935
Arkansasshares a border
Score 38.77
Closest healthier
71960
Arkansasshares a border
Score 39.91
Similar health profile
74426
Oklahoma98% similar profile
Score 32.85
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 | 34.2% | 30.5–37.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.6% | 41.1–49.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.1–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.6% | 13.5–17.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.1% | 38.4–47.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 31.6–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.9% | 18.3–25.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 8.9–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.5–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.0–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.5–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.3–67.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 49.6–57.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 63.1–78.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.1–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.6–20.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.8% | 29.7–39.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 30.5–43.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.5% | 23.3–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.4–20.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.8% | 37.0–46.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–23.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.3–28.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.8–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 63.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 25.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 47.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $51,969 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $164,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $699 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $800 ($568–$1,094) n=393 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.3 yr ± 0.48 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.2 yr (73.4–79.7) n=580 |
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 0.48 years of 74.3, 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