ZIP code
31537
in Folkston, GeorgiaPopulation 9,349
39.84/ 100
Ranked #26,861 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #578 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
20.8%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
59.7%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
160.3 days/year
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.1%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
37.9%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
58.9%
in the bottom 11.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS16thDefinition & 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 ›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
Overall, Folkston, Georgia (ZIP 31537) lands in the bottom 16% nationally (26,861st) and the bottom 19% of Georgia (578th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled uninsured settles in the top 4.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat registers in the top 2.7% nationally, unemployment rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled loneliness stands in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the top 10.4% nationally, tooth loss lands in the top 10.6% nationally, and short sleep sits in the top 11.6% nationally. Modeled transportation is in the top 12.6% nationally.
A note on the terms: floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 31542, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 85%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 1.0%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.2%
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 78.5 ± 1.8 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.0 years — 3.5 years above them.
Ranked #549 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
31542
Georgiashares a border
Score 42.47
Closest healthier
31548
Georgiashares a border
Score 51.55
Similar health profile
32066
Florida99% similar profile
Score 39.62
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 | 27.0% | 24.0–30.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.6–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.7–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 34.5–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.0% | 32.8–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.9% | 19.3–26.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.8% | 17.7–24.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 74.1–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.8% | 71.9–79.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 81.9–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.9% | 53.6–64.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.8% | 44.0–51.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.5% | 62.1–78.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.7–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.7% | 16.2–21.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.2% | 28.5–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.3% | 34.3–48.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.9% | 23.9–30.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 31.8–40.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 23.2–31.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.9% | 20.6–27.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.4–22.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.1% | 16.4–21.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.9% | 32.4–43.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 35.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 17.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 40.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $64,461 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $539 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 78.5, 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