ZIP code
72916
in Fort Smith, ArkansasPopulation 11,711
54.21/ 100
Ranked #10,427 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #24 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 4.3%)
Ranked #1 of 31 Fort Smith, AR-OK ZIPs (top 3.3%)
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 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
2.4%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS22ndDefinition & 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 ›Self-care disability
3.2%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
31.8%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
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 ›Vision disability
4.3%
in the bottom 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS27thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
10.9%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
7.5%
in the bottom 30% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS30thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
13.4%
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS31stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 72916, one of several in Fort Smith, Arkansas sits in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,427th) and the top 4.3% of Arkansas (24th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 14.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room resides in the bottom 17% nationally. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 8.8% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands in the top 13.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat rests in the top 18% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the top 18% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. No nearby ZIP ranks healthier overall than this one.
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK 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 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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 76.1 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $87,983 predicts 79.6 years — 3.5 years below.
Ranked #4,646 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
72901
Arkansasshares a border
Score 34.70
Similar health profile
64068
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 56.20
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 | 26.7% | 23.8–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 34.3–41.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.5–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.2–44.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 26.6–37.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 11.1–16.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.7–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.5–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.3–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 62.6–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.6% | 58.1–65.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 69.1–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 22.6–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 30.5–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.7–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.4% | 21.0–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.5–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–7.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.8–10.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 29.6–38.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–5.7%) n=574 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–6.5%) n=578 |
| Single-parent households | 54.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 17.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 38.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $87,983 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $263,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $1,242 | $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 | 76.1 yr ± 0.44 | 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 0.44 years of 76.1, 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