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ZipVitals

ZIP code

73491

in Velma, OklahomaPopulation 791

38.13/ 100

Ranked #27,935 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.9%)

Ranked #394 of 634 Oklahoma ZIPs (bottom 38%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Dry extreme heat

71.5 days/year

in the top 5.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a nursing home

13.7 mi

in the top 6.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Mammography

68.1%

in the bottom 7.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST55th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

34.9%

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.

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 ›

Distance to an emergency room

16.9 mi

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Loud transportation noise

1.6%

in the top 11.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US89th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the bottom 11.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST8th
US12th
Definition & 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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the bottom 12.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST8th
US12th
Definition & 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 ›

Unemployment rate

8.8%

in the top 12.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

Full methodology ›

The read

Judged by its overall standing, Velma, Oklahoma (ZIP 73491) sits in the bottom 12.9% nationally (27,935th) and the bottom 38% of Oklahoma (394th).

continue reading

A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled disaster risk lands in the bottom 11.9% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the bottom 12.1% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled extreme heat settles in the top 5.8% nationally, distance to a nursing home lands in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled mammography rests in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Floodplain exposure settles in the top 8.0% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lands in the top 8.4% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 11.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center lands in the top 11.1% nationally.

Put plainly, 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 73533, 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.

Compare within

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 24%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 18%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 40%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 19%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 30%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 18%

8%

Disability

healthier than 22%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 4%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 56%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 42%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 57%

11%

Disability

healthier than 57%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 35%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 32%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 3%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 5%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults32.0%28.6–35.4
High blood pressure among adults42.6%38.3–46.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.8%7.9–9.8
Current asthma among adults12.1%10.7–13.6
Coronary heart disease among adults8.0%7.1–9.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.8%8.4–11.3
Depression among adults26.5%22.9–30.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.4%11.7–15.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.9%35.7–44.1
Obesity among adults39.4%32.7–46.6
Stroke among adults4.2%3.7–4.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.6%16.1–23.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.4%8.4–12.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.2%74.1–79.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.0%75.3–82.4
Cholesterol screening among adults84.9%82.6–87.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years59.8%54.5–65.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults53.5%49.7–57.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years68.1%59.8–75.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults13.8%11.3–16.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults19.7%16.6–23.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults33.4%28.6–38.8
Short sleep duration among adults35.3%29.4–41.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.3%20.2–26.7
Frequent mental distress among adults18.6%16.4–20.9
Frequent physical distress among adults16.1%14.2–18.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults18.0%15.8–20.4
Any disability among adults40.9%36.2–45.9
Hearing disability among adults10.0%8.8–11.3
Independent living disability among adults10.3%9.0–11.7
Mobility disability among adults19.4%16.8–22.2
Self-care disability among adults4.8%4.2–5.5
Vision disability among adults6.3%5.5–7.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults24.1%20.4–28.2
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults18.2%15.2–21.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults15.9%13.0–19.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults13.0%10.9–15.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults9.1%7.9–10.6
Loneliness among adults32.0%27.2–37.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults9.9%8.4–11.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)OK median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate23.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36416.3% (6.5–26.1%) n=643
Uninsured 18–6412.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28619.4% (9.5–30.7%) n=643
No HS diploma (25+)6.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50510.9% (4.8–18.9%) n=644
Bachelor's or higher (25+)12.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50518.4% (9.0–38.4%) n=644
Unemployment rate (16+)8.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.3% (0.4–8.8%) n=643
Households without a vehicle1.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.0–9.0%) n=643
Broadband subscription87.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32285.4% (70.2–95.0%) n=643
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)28.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32220.0% (9.5–31.0%) n=643
Homeownership rate72.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.2% (56.5–91.0%) n=643
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3222.3% (0.0–6.1%) n=643
Foreign-born population0.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.9% (0.0–9.3%) n=645
Single-parent households53.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08751.7% (39.5–66.1%) n=640
Population 65+12.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55318.4% (11.9–29.5%) n=645
Median age37.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.3 yr (33.1–52.0) n=642
Median household income$83,750$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$58,728 ($43,042–$88,542) n=616
Median home value$114,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$142,200 ($83,960–$248,900) n=615
Median gross rent$971$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$839 ($628–$1,136) n=546
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)OK median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth77.0 yr ± 0.9378.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30877.2 yr (73.6–81.3) n=638

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 0.93 years of 77.0, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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