ZIP code
35080
in Helena, AlabamaPopulation 20,251
61.80/ 100
Ranked #3,636 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.4%)
Ranked #14 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 2.3%)
Ranked #7 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 6.1%)
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.
PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.3%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.9 per million
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
2.3%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.7%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
9.7%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Helena, Alabama (ZIP 35080) comes out in the top 11.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,636th) and the top 2.3% of Alabama (14th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled coronary heart disease is in the bottom 4.6% nationally, modeled stroke resides in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Lithium in drinking water lies in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and modeled mobility disability sits in the bottom 8.0% nationally. By contrast, PFOA in drinking water settles at the national maximum, and PFOS in drinking water registers at the national maximum. PFAS in drinking water stands at the national maximum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 7.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 35244, 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 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 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 99%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.8 ± 2.1 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.9 years — 3.9 years above them.
Ranked #401 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 28.7; chronic-disease standing 87.8 — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,320 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 39.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.8 ± 2.1 years.
Ranked #1,408 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
35244
Alabamashares a border
Score 63.74
Similar health profile
62294
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 61.29
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 | 24.1% | 21.2–27.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 31.8–39.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.3–26.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.5–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.2% | 25.5–37.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.8% | 5.4–8.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.2% | 5.1–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.5% | 69.0–75.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.6–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.2–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 61.9–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.9% | 67.5–74.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 71.9–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.2% | 8.6–12.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.1% | 15.0–21.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 29.8–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.8% | 21.3–28.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.5–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.1–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–6.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 26.3–34.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 44.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 11.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $118,344 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $312,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,690 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 1.06 | 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 1.06 years of 78.8, 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