ZIP code
72421
in Cash, ArkansasPopulation 618
38.75/ 100
Ranked #27,566 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.1%)
Ranked #306 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #8 of 19 Jonesboro, AR ZIPs (top 42%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
38.5%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
66.3 mi
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
11.6 mi
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
19.9%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST15thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68.7%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST28thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.01%
in the bottom 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$41,310
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST21stUS6thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Cash, Arkansas (ZIP 72421) stands in the bottom 14.1% nationally (27,566th) and the bottom 46% of Arkansas (306th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: distance to a Superfund site is in the top 7.3% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 13.7% nationally. By contrast, floodplain exposure lies in the top 6.7% nationally, and distance to a nursing home is in the top 8.5% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 9.8% nationally, walkability lies in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and modeled mammography is in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Modeled tree cover registers in the bottom 11.6% nationally, household income lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and poverty is in the top 13.4% nationally.
For clarity, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 72404, 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 Jonesboro, AR metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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
72404
Arkansasshares a border
Score 47.93
Closest healthier
72427
Arkansasabout 0.8 mi away
Score 42.90
Similar health profile
72462
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 33.24
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 | 32.6% | 29.6–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 39.1–46.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 23.6–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 36.9–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 33.3–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 16.7–22.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 9.2–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.6–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.1–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 81.5–86.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.9% | 57.7–65.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.4% | 50.9–57.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.7% | 61.3–75.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.5–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.7% | 29.5–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 33.3–43.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.4% | 23.3–30.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.2% | 37.0–45.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–22.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.7% | 23.0–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 14.6–20.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.1–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.9–15.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.7–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 28.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 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 | 70.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 14.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 38.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $41,310 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $90,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $830 | $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 | 75.0 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 75.0, 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