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ZIP code

72301

in West Memphis, ArkansasPopulation 23,959

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

30.46/ 100

Ranked #30,670 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.4%)

Ranked #511 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (bottom 9.1%)

Ranked #71 of 81 Memphis, TN-MS-AR ZIPs (bottom 12.4%)

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

1,986 units

in the top 0.3% 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 ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

55.4%

in the top 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.

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 ›

Self-care disability

8.0%

in the top 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

49.6%

in the top 0.8% 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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$1

in the top 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

34.4%

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

14.5%

in the top 3.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Vision disability

10.4%

in the top 4.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US96th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

22.2%

in the top 1.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

22.5%

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

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.

The read

On the composite measure, West Memphis, Arkansas (ZIP 72301) stands in the bottom 4.4% nationally (30,670th) and the bottom 9.1% of Arkansas (511th).

continue reading

A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 0.9% nationally, and modeled self-care disability lies in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled obesity is in the top 0.8% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lies in the top 3.1% nationally, independent living disability is in the top 3.3% nationally, and vision disability registers in the top 4.1% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lies in the top 1.6% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the top 3.1% nationally. On the brighter side, subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 0.3% nationally.

Set beside the wider area around it, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 38103, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Memphis, TN-MS-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

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 8%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 19%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 6%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 21%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 5%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 15%

8%

Disability

healthier than 4%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 4%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 32%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 1%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 38%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 11%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 33%

8%

Disability

healthier than 8%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 16%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 19%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 26%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 20%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 29%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 39%

8%

Disability

healthier than 17%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 4%

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

2 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 73.0 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $42,859 predicts 76.7 years — 3.7 years below.

    Ranked #4,893 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, 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 73.0 ± 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 adults31.2%27.8–34.6
High blood pressure among adults50.8%46.4–55.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults6.4%5.8–7.1
Current asthma among adults12.2%10.8–13.8
Coronary heart disease among adults8.6%7.8–9.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.7%9.7–11.9
Depression among adults23.7%20.1–27.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults19.2%16.9–21.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.9%35.6–44.2
Obesity among adults49.6%41.9–57.3
Stroke among adults5.8%5.4–6.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years27.1%23.0–31.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years13.7%11.8–15.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.4%75.8–80.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults82.2%78.9–85.0
Cholesterol screening among adults84.4%82.4–86.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years60.0%54.7–65.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults43.1%39.4–46.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years73.7%65.9–80.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults11.4%9.1–13.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults21.0%18.4–23.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults42.7%37.6–47.8
Short sleep duration among adults44.0%37.6–50.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults34.4%31.1–37.8
Frequent mental distress among adults21.1%18.8–23.5
Frequent physical distress among adults18.6%16.6–20.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults22.5%20.2–24.9
Any disability among adults46.2%41.5–50.9
Hearing disability among adults7.7%6.9–8.6
Independent living disability among adults14.5%13.1–15.9
Mobility disability among adults24.5%22.0–27.1
Self-care disability among adults8.0%7.4–8.7
Vision disability among adults10.4%9.6–11.3
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults34.0%29.7–38.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults36.1%32.5–39.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults29.8%26.8–32.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults27.4%24.4–30.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults18.0%16.1–19.9
Loneliness among adults40.1%34.7–45.8
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults22.2%19.8–24.6
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 18–6415.8%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573
No HS diploma (25+)16.2%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+)14.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573
Households without a vehicle15.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574
Broadband subscription83.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32283.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)34.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32220.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574
Homeownership rate46.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.9%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574
Foreign-born population2.2%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578
Single-parent households32.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571
Population 65+15.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578
Median age34.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573
Median household income$42,859$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505
Median home value$120,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519
Median gross rent$871$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 birth73.0 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 73.0, 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