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ZipVitals

ZIP code

72209

in Little Rock, ArkansasPopulation 31,607

31.18/ 100

Ranked #30,506 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.9%)

Ranked #500 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (bottom 11.1%)

Ranked #57 of 59 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ZIPs (bottom 3.4%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Subsidized affordable housing

1,793 units

in the top 0.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

31.7%

in the top 2.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

11.1%

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

23.7%

in the top 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

24.8%

in the top 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

46.5%

in the top 1.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

49.9%

in the top 0.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

31.7%

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

34.8%

in the top 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

21.1%

in the top 3.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

The read

Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 72209, one of several in Little Rock, Arkansas sits in the bottom 4.9% nationally (30,506th) and the bottom 11.1% of Arkansas (500th).

continue reading

A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: modeled tooth loss stands in the top 2.3% nationally, vision disability resides in the top 3.1% nationally, and cognitive disability sits in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the top 0.9% nationally, short sleep resides in the top 1.6% nationally, and obesity sits in the top 0.7% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and fair or poor health resides in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled uninsured sits in the top 3.8% nationally. On the stronger side, subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 0.4% nationally.

Placed beside its immediate neighbors, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 72103, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 66%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 23%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 7%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 14%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 8%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 15%

8%

Disability

healthier than 4%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 7%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 71%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 54%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 9%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 4%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 6%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 6%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 30%

8%

Disability

healthier than 9%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 21%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 41%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 20%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 6%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 8%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 4%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 14%

8%

Disability

healthier than 6%

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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

3 of our published findings list 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 72.7 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $40,231 predicts 76.5 years — 3.8 years below.

    Ranked #4,899 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 72.7 ± 1.5 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.3 years — 3.6 years below them.

    Ranked #2,771 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

  • Highest-risk tenth

    Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale

    Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 72.7 ± 1.5 years.

    Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults25.5%23.1–28.0
High blood pressure among adults46.0%42.7–49.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults4.5%4.0–4.9
Current asthma among adults11.6%10.3–13.0
Coronary heart disease among adults6.9%6.2–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.9%8.0–9.9
Depression among adults23.0%20.0–26.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults17.2%15.3–19.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.3%31.2–37.4
Obesity among adults49.9%45.1–54.6
Stroke among adults4.9%4.5–5.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years31.7%27.8–36.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years21.1%18.6–23.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure73.8%71.0–76.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.2%76.0–81.9
Cholesterol screening among adults81.3%79.0–83.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years57.3%53.2–61.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults42.1%39.0–45.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.0%69.2–80.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.5%10.3–14.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults20.0%17.5–22.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults41.7%37.7–45.6
Short sleep duration among adults46.5%42.3–50.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults34.8%31.7–37.8
Frequent mental distress among adults21.7%19.5–24.0
Frequent physical distress among adults17.7%15.9–19.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults23.7%21.4–26.0
Any disability among adults44.4%40.7–48.1
Hearing disability among adults6.5%5.7–7.2
Independent living disability among adults14.5%13.1–16.0
Mobility disability among adults22.5%20.4–24.7
Self-care disability among adults7.7%7.1–8.4
Vision disability among adults11.1%10.2–12.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults35.7%32.0–39.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults40.0%36.3–43.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults31.0%27.8–34.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults31.7%28.5–35.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults20.6%18.6–22.8
Loneliness among adults40.0%36.2–44.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults24.8%22.3–27.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)AR median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate29.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36416.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574
Uninsured 18–6430.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573
No HS diploma (25+)18.4%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50512.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577
Bachelor's or higher (25+)13.9%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50515.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577
Unemployment rate (16+)6.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573
Households without a vehicle10.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574
Broadband subscription87.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32283.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)39.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32220.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574
Homeownership rate38.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574
Crowded housing (>1 per room)3.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574
Foreign-born population15.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578
Single-parent households28.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571
Population 65+10.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578
Median age29.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573
Median household income$40,231$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505
Median home value$98,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519
Median gross rent$965$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$800 ($568–$1,094) n=393
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)AR median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth72.7 yr ± 0.7978.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30876.2 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 0.79 years of 72.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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