ZIP code
72543
in Heber Springs, ArkansasPopulation 12,350
43.46/ 100
Ranked #23,948 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #130 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 23%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
11.8%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.8%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
1.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.3%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.66 per 1,000 residents
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
Heber Springs, Arkansas (ZIP 72543), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 25% nationally (23,948th) and the top 23% of Arkansas (130th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: physicians stands in the top 7.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled disaster risk sits in the top 4.3% nationally, and hearing disability stands in the top 5.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 6.4% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease sits in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 8.7% nationally, and unemployment resides in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled mobility disability sits in the top 12.2% nationally, and high blood pressure stands in the top 11.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 72131, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
“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 74.3 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $56,722 predicts 77.8 years — 3.5 years below.
Ranked #4,729 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 84.4; chronic-disease standing 14.2 — 70 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,059 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
72067
Arkansasshares a border
Score 41.69
Closest healthier
72131
Arkansasshares a border
Score 43.88
Similar health profile
72634
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 41.65
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 | 36.0% | 32.3–39.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.2% | 40.8–49.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 21.3–28.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.0–47.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 30.1–45.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 14.7–21.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.4–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.9–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 77.6–83.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.5–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.0–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 51.8–59.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.7% | 64.5–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 10.9–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.6% | 29.6–39.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 28.8–41.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.7% | 23.5–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.3–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.8% | 38.1–47.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–24.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 21.6–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.4–18.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 28.6–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 53.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 25.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 47.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $56,722 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $187,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $849 | $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 | 74.3 yr ± 0.67 | 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 0.67 years of 74.3, 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