ZIP code
31561
in Sea Island, GeorgiaPopulation 96
64.80/ 100
Ranked #2,081 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.5%)
Ranked #39 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (top 5.5%)
Ranked #1 of 13 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA ZIPs (top 7.7%)
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.
Median household income
$250,001
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
2.2%
in the bottom 0.04% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
84.8%
in the top 0.01% 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 ›Housing insecurity
3.9%
in the bottom 0.09% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
3.3%
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
5.1%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
48.6%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
66.7%
in the top 2.0% 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 ›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
Sea Island, Georgia (ZIP 31561) ranks in the top 6.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,081st) and the top 5.5% of Georgia (39th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: household income lands at the national maximum, and modeled utility shutoff settles in the bottom 0.04% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 0.01% nationally, and housing insecurity lands in the bottom 0.09% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 0.2% nationally, modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles at the national minimum. On the other side, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 0.7% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 2.0% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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". The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 31411, about 47 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 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 98%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.3%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.3%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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.
Nearby
31522
Georgiashares a border
Score 63.61
Closest healthier
31411
Georgiaabout 47 mi away
Score 69.32
Similar health profile
32949
Florida99% similar profile
Score 56.66
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 | 34.3% | 29.8–38.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.2% | 41.2–50.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 4.6–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 16.2% | 13.5–19.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 10.8–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 48.6% | 44.2–53.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.4% | 19.7–31.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.1–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.6–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 4.0–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 86.3% | 83.9–88.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.9% | 81.9–87.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.1% | 91.1–94.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 84.8% | 81.2–87.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.3% | 70.1–76.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.1% | 76.8–88.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 10.0–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.9% | 4.9–11.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 13.8–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.6% | 23.4–33.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 10.2–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 10.7% | 8.8–12.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 9.2–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.8% | 6.6–11.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 21.2–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 8.4–12.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.0–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.1% | 9.2–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 1.9–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.4–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 16.7% | 13.0–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 3.0–7.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 3.1% | 1.7–4.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 3.9% | 2.6–5.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 3.3% | 2.3–4.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.4% | 23.4–34.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 2.2% | 1.6–2.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 100.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 72.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 59.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 69.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 82.5 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 82.5, 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