ZIP code
72527
in Desha, ArkansasPopulation 636
44.25/ 100
Ranked #23,174 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #109 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 19%)
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
44.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & 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
63.1 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.11%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
58%
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
10.2%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
36.8%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Desha, Arkansas (ZIP 72527) lands in the bottom 28% nationally (23,174th) and the top 19% of Arkansas (109th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle is at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 8.0% nationally, modeled transportation noise settles in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and modeled disaster risk lies in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other hand, floodplain exposure registers in the top 5.2% nationally, modeled colon screening sits in the bottom 9.3% nationally, and modeled extreme heat rests in the top 13.8% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 72130, about 18 miles away.
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 72%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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
72501
Arkansasshares a border
Score 41.04
Closest healthier
72130
Arkansasabout 18 mi away
Score 44.76
Similar health profile
75442
Texas98% similar profile
Score 46.10
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 | 29.3% | 25.8–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.8% | 34.3–43.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 21.6–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.9–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 30.8–46.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.2% | 8.4–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.7% | 7.9–14.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.6–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.2–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 81.4–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.0% | 53.1–63.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.5% | 49.8–57.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.0% | 62.9–78.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.0–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 12.5–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 26.9–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.1% | 32.3–44.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 18.7–26.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.0–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.1–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 15.4–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.2% | 32.9–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 13.9–19.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.5% | 23.3–32.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 11.2–18.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.0–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.4–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 29.5–40.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.7% | 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 | 89.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.4% | 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 | 12.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 82.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 34.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 58.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $72,917 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 1.21 | 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 1.21 years of 75.1, 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