ZIP code
31558
in St. Marys, GeorgiaPopulation 22,591
47.98/ 100
Ranked #18,948 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #330 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9 µg/L
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
6.7%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
58.1%
in the top 2.8% 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
466 units
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
147.7 days/year
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.9%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.094 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.63%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
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
St. Marys, Georgia (ZIP 31558), overall, ranks in the bottom 41% nationally (18,948th) and the top 46% of Georgia (330th).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: slow internet speeds resides in the top 1.9% nationally, floodplain exposure settles in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the top 5.4% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 5.5% nationally. On the better side, lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 0.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 4.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Physicians rests in the top 6.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers resides in the top 11.6% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, 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". Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. ZIP 31547, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 1.0%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.7 ± 1.9 years. A median household income of $74,268 predicts 78.9 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #3,030 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
31547
Georgiashares a border
Score 57.06
Closest healthier
31548
Georgiashares a border
Score 51.55
Similar health profile
79510
Texas99% similar profile
Score 48.09
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 | 26.4% | 23.5–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 32.9–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.7–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 33.5–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.1% | 31.3–46.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.0–17.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.3% | 11.4–15.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.6% | 72.9–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.6–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.8% | 82.9–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 63.6–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.2% | 54.7–61.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 69.9–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.8–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 24.3–33.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.9% | 30.9–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.4% | 19.0–24.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.8–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 13.1–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–37.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.7–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 31.0–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 45.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 33.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $74,268 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $297,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $1,265 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.99 | 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 0.99 years of 76.7, 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