ZIP code
31522
in Saint Simons Island, GeorgiaPopulation 17,780
63.61/ 100
Ranked #2,661 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.3%)
Ranked #44 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (top 6.2%)
Ranked #2 of 13 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA ZIPs (top 15%)
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.
Housing insecurity
5.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
3.9%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.4%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
6.0%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
72.8%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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
27 mi
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
76.6%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
9.0%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Cognitive disability
9.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Saint Simons Island, Georgia (ZIP 31522), on the composite measure, lands in the top 8.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,661st) and the top 6.2% of Georgia (44th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 1.1% nationally, lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 1.3% nationally, and modeled transportation sits in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff registers in the bottom 1.3% nationally, food insecurity lands in the bottom 1.5% nationally, and colon screening resides in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally. On the other hand, floodplain exposure settles in the top 1.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 2.5% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 4.2% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 31561, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
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 80.9 ± 1.1 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.2 years — 4.7 years above them.
Ranked #186 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
31527
Georgiashares a border
Score 58.52
Closest healthier
31561
Georgiashares a border
Score 64.80
Similar health profile
31328
Georgia100% similar profile
Score 61.85
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 | 32.4% | 29.0–36.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 38.6–47.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.7% | 12.5–15.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 18.0% | 15.1–21.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.4% | 40.8–50.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.3% | 22.5–35.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.4% | 5.1–7.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.5–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.1% | 81.5–86.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 80.8–86.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.0% | 92.0–93.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 76.6% | 72.3–80.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.6% | 70.5–76.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 74.2–86.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.3–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.4% | 16.3–23.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.4% | 26.0–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 22.7–29.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.0–14.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–19.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.1% | 3.4–4.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.3% | 23.8–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 74.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 39.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 59.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $108,632 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $571,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $1,851 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $993 ($694–$1,769) n=627 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.9 yr ± 0.55 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.1 yr (73.3–79.7) n=668 |
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 0.55 years of 80.9, 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