ZIP code
72856
in Pelsor, ArkansasPopulation 446
41.73/ 100
Ranked #25,453 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #192 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 34%)
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.
Park land
85%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
92.9%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
0.98%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
50.2%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
39.5%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
24.2 mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
23.7 mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
12.1%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.5 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.8%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Pelsor, Arkansas (ZIP 72856) ranks in the bottom 21% nationally (25,453rd) and the top 34% of Arkansas (192nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: modeled high blood pressure sits in the top 3.3% nationally, and poverty is in the top 3.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled hearing disability resides in the top 4.2% nationally. Walkability registers in the bottom 4.6% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 3.0% nationally. More encouragingly, park land stands in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled tree cover lies in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 1.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 3.4% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Close by, ZIP 72628, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 31%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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
72628
Arkansasshares a border
Score 43.14
Closest healthier
72641
Arkansasshares a border
Score 42.94
Similar health profile
63450
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 39.52
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 | 39.7% | 35.8–43.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 50.2% | 45.8–55.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.5% | 10.2–15.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 20.8–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.2% | 13.9–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.8% | 41.4–50.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 31.2–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 14.9–21.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 7.6–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.5% | 81.1–85.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 79.6–85.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.3% | 86.4–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.1% | 59.3–68.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.5% | 51.9–59.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.4% | 64.4–79.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.0% | 9.9–14.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 13.8–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.9% | 29.9–42.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 29.7–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 22.9–32.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.5% | 15.8–21.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.0–20.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.1% | 38.6–49.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.4–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.6% | 19.8–27.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.0% | 21.0–29.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 12.1–18.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.2–11.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.3–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 27.0–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 39.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 1.5% | 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 | 81.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 74.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 17.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 51.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $47,284 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $255,500 | $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 | 86.6 yr ± 2.62 | 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 2.62 years of 86.6, 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