ZIP code
71965
in Pencil Bluff, ArkansasPopulation 298
36.93/ 100
Ranked #28,568 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.0%)
Ranked #374 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Coronary heart disease
12.0%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
0.96%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
12.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
25.5%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
47.3%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
51%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Park land
49%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
40.3%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Stroke
6.0%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
23 mi
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›The read
Pencil Bluff, Arkansas (ZIP 71965) ranks in the bottom 11.0% nationally (28,568th) and the bottom 33% of Arkansas (374th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: modeled coronary heart disease resides in the top 1.8% nationally, and hearing disability stands in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability sits in the top 2.9% nationally, and high cholesterol resides in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 2.6% nationally, poverty sits in the top 3.0% nationally, and modeled stroke resides in the top 4.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands in the top 3.9% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and park land resides in the top 2.5% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 71957, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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
71957
Arkansasshares a border
Score 37.62
Closest healthier
72950
Arkansasabout 2.1 mi away
Score 41.06
Similar health profile
42039
Kentucky100% similar profile
Score 41.13
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 | 39.7% | 35.5–43.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.0% | 46.3–55.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.9% | 11.5–16.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 21.5–29.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.0% | 15.5–20.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 47.3% | 42.5–52.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 33.9–51.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 15.0–22.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 7.6–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.4% | 80.6–85.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.7% | 79.4–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.2–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 62.6–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.1% | 51.3–59.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.2% | 60.7–77.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.7% | 9.3–14.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 15.5–23.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 37.8% | 31.4–44.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 30.8–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.9% | 25.3–34.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 20.1% | 17.3–23.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 15.9–21.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.8% | 40.1–51.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.4–14.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 25.5% | 21.7–29.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 19.7–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 14.3–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 9.6–15.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.4–14.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.3–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.7–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 40.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 61.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 9.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 41.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $144,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 76.8 yr ± 1.77 | 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 1.77 years of 76.8, 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