ZIP code
72079
in Jefferson, ArkansasPopulation 385
45.80/ 100
Ranked #21,539 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #86 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 15%)
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.
Home broadband subscription
50.3%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
3.0%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS10thDefinition & 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
On the composite measure, Jefferson, Arkansas (ZIP 72079) stands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,539th) and the top 15% of Arkansas (86th).
A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 1.5% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled transportation noise stands in the top 7.5% nationally, and distance to an emergency room sits in the top 13.2% nationally. On the brighter side, poverty resides at the national minimum, and modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Unemployment sits at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Homeownership stands in the top 10.3% nationally, and housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 12.9% nationally.
For clarity, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. ZIP 72132, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
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
71602
Arkansasshares a border
Score 39.67
Closest healthier
72132
Arkansasshares a border
Score 46.14
Similar health profile
65244
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 45.91
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 | 29.0% | 26.1–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 38.9–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 21.9–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 36.6–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 34.1–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.5% | 13.7–19.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.1–12.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.1% | 74.1–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.9–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 82.5–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.6–67.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.5% | 55.8–63.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 63.5–78.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.6–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 14.2–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.6% | 26.8–36.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 33.1–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–26.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.7–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.2% | 33.8–42.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.4–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.4% | 24.6–32.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 12.7–19.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.0–11.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.8–15.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.9–39.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.7–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 32.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 1.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 50.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.9% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 79.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 48.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 62.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $69,479 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $163,900 | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 1.08 | 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 1.08 years of 74.7, 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