ZIP code
35044
in Childersburg, AlabamaPopulation 7,837
39.62/ 100
Ranked #27,004 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #413 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.92%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
44.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Obesity
47%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.51 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›High blood pressure
48.5%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.13 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35 per million
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.64 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Distance to a community health center
10.6 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Childersburg, Alabama (ZIP 35044) sits in the bottom 16% nationally (27,004th) and the bottom 33% of Alabama (413th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, modeled short sleep stands in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled obesity is in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 5.2% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 9.1% nationally, and diabetes registers in the top 10.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle lands in the top 11.2% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and pharmacy lies in the top 4.8% nationally. Mental-health providers settles in the top 8.0% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 35014, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 73.1 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $56,425 predicts 77.8 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,424 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.1 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.7 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,022 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
35014
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.51
Closest healthier
35078
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.19
Similar health profile
63878
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 34.15
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 | 31.9% | 28.5–35.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.5% | 44.1–52.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 37.2–46.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 47.0% | 39.7–54.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.0% | 15.5–22.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.4–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 74.9–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.0–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.2–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.2% | 60.1–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.0% | 46.9–55.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 67.8–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 10.9–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.6–21.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.5% | 28.8–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.8% | 37.9–51.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.4% | 24.4–30.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.0% | 35.6–44.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–21.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 23.5–31.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.6% | 21.7–27.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.4–22.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.0% | 31.3–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 48.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 15.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 43.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $56,425 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $124,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $788 | $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 | 73.1 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 73.1, 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