ZIP code
72941
in Lavaca, ArkansasPopulation 5,140
48.74/ 100
Ranked #18,017 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #56 of 562 Arkansas ZIPs (top 10.0%)
Ranked #4 of 31 Fort Smith, AR-OK ZIPs (top 13.0%)
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.
Diabetes
11.1%
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Lavaca, Arkansas (ZIP 72941) lands in the bottom 44% nationally (18,017th) and the top 10.0% of Arkansas (56th).
The measures split the difference for this area: distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 12.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 14.4% nationally. Fiber broadband rests in the top 16% nationally. Against that, floodplain exposure is in the top 10.1% nationally, modeled extreme heat stands in the top 13.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 14.6% nationally. Crowded housing lies in the top 16% nationally. Recreation resides at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness lands in the top 18% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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 72916, about 0.2 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 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
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 ›
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.6 ± 3.5 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.0 years — 5.6 years above them.
Ranked #69 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
72921
Arkansasshares a border
Score 42.14
Closest healthier
72916
Arkansasabout 0.2 mi away
Score 54.21
Similar health profile
72150
Arkansas98% similar profile
Score 48.73
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 | 28.4% | 25.3–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 35.0–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 22.3–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 36.3–44.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 28.3–40.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.8% | 13.0–18.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 7.7–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.8–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.6% | 74.0–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.3–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.8% | 59.7–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.0% | 55.5–62.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 68.7–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 12.9–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.2–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 31.1–42.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.1–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 16.4–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 30.3–39.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 22.5–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.4–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.4–7.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.9% | 31.1–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AR median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (4.0–30.6%) n=574 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.3% (1.5–24.1%) n=573 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.0% (3.7–23.0%) n=577 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.5% (4.4–30.5%) n=577 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–11.6%) n=573 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.1% (0.0–12.5%) n=574 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (65.0–94.7%) n=574 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.4% (4.3–33.2%) n=574 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.6% (57.7–96.1%) n=574 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 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 | 41.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.0% (35.3–79.3%) n=571 |
| Population 65+ | 14.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.6–37.9%) n=578 |
| Median age | 36.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.6 yr (33.6–58.1) n=573 |
| Median household income | $73,558 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $53,893 ($36,003–$79,139) n=505 |
| Median home value | $169,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $128,200 ($73,260–$235,420) n=519 |
| Median gross rent | $908 | $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 | 81.6 yr ± 1.77 | 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 1.77 years of 81.6, 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