ZIP code
35040
in Calera, AlabamaPopulation 19,304
53.06/ 100
Ranked #11,991 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #76 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 12.3%)
Ranked #29 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 25%)
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
39.1 per million
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.8%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.8%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.9%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
12.2%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
10.6%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
3.4%
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Calera, Alabama (ZIP 35040) sits in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,991st) and the top 12.3% of Alabama (76th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 7.8% nationally, stroke stands in the bottom 12.5% nationally, and hearing disability is in the bottom 15% nationally. Mental-health providers rests in the top 18% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the bottom 19% nationally. Working the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 7.3% nationally, and humid heat lands in the top 13.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 14.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 19% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. ZIP 35007, just across the boundary, ranks 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Birmingham, 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 77%
21%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
“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
3 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.0 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $84,554 predicts 79.4 years — 3.4 years below.
Ranked #4,613 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 18.7; chronic-disease standing 77.2 — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,266 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 39.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.0 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #1,599 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
35007
Alabamashares a border
Score 58.47
Closest healthier
35043
Alabamaabout 2.8 mi away
Score 60.17
Similar health profile
37201
Tennessee97% similar profile
Score 61.25
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 | 24.4% | 21.8–27.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.1% | 34.6–41.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.2–26.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.8–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 29.8–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.7% | 11.3–16.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.9–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.6% | 68.5–74.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.2–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.5–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 59.9–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.8% | 56.1–63.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 70.7–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.2–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.3% | 20.0–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.4% | 34.1–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.0% | 26.5–33.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.8–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 29.6–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 41.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 9.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 35.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $84,554 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $232,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,512 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $856 ($625–$1,266) n=503 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.0 yr ± 0.56 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 74.7 yr (72.1–78.3) n=599 |
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 0.56 years of 76.0, 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