ZIP code
72722
in Decatur, ArkansasPopulation 2,876
50.06/ 100
Ranked #16,160 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #41 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 7.3%)
Ranked #14 of 40 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR ZIPs (top 35%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
54.8%
in the bottom 11.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 12.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
34.1%
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.42%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
2.5%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Stroke
3.2%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
90.9 days/year
in the top 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Decatur, Arkansas (ZIP 72722) lands in the bottom 50% nationally (16,160th) and the top 7.3% of Arkansas (41st).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 7.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 15% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure rests at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Against that, crowded housing is in the top 9.0% nationally, homeownership stands in the bottom 11.9% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 12.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 16% nationally, and colon screening lands in the bottom 14.4% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 72719, about 1.5 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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
72734
Arkansasshares a border
Score 49.33
Closest healthier
72719
Arkansasabout 1.5 mi away
Score 60.12
Similar health profile
79401
Texas97% similar profile
Score 45.21
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 | 24.3% | 21.8–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.6–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.7–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 30.8–37.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 32.6–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.0–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.0% | 11.2–15.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 72.9–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 74.6–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.1% | 82.1–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.0% | 55.4–64.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.8% | 52.4–59.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 63.8–77.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.5–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 25.7–33.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 31.9–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 20.2–25.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.5–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 30.4–37.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.3% | 24.0–30.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.7–10.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 28.6–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 44.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 11.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 36.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $54,838 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $230,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $857 | $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 | 78.3 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 78.3, 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