ZIP code
31909
in Columbus, GeorgiaPopulation 39,364
55.82/ 100
Ranked #8,490 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #130 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #7 of 36 Columbus, GA-AL ZIPs (top 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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.57 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Homeownership rate
49.5%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.6 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
88.2%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFOS in drinking water
88.2%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
129.9 days/year
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 14.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS68thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 31909, one of several in Columbus, Georgia ranks in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,490th) and the top 18% of Georgia (130th).
Taken together, the profile's clearest strengths surface right away: childcare resides in the top 8.2% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 9.4% nationally. Home broadband subscription registers in the top 13.3% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 4.5% nationally, homeownership is in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water stands in the top 9.5% nationally. PFOS in drinking water settles in the top 9.7% nationally, modeled humid heat lies in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled loneliness resides in the top 13.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 31808, 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 Columbus, GA-AL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 29.8; chronic-disease standing 80.3 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,436 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.2 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
31808
Georgiashares a border
Score 62.16
Closest healthier
31820
Georgiashares a border
Score 61.48
Similar health profile
30909
Georgia98% similar profile
Score 55.31
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 | 23.7% | 21.5–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.0% | 31.1–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 18.2–24.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 31.8–39.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 29.9–41.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.5–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 10.1–13.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.8–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.6% | 74.7–81.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 85.1–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.5–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.5% | 61.4–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.6–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.6–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 20.7–27.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 34.3–43.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.9–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 24.4–31.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 20.7–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.1–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.7% | 32.2–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 49.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 48.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 34.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $69,166 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $221,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $1,316 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 78.2, 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