ZIP code
35118
in Sylvan Springs, AlabamaPopulation 2,960
50.98/ 100
Ranked #14,877 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #99 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #35 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 30%)
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.
Lead in tap water
9.2 ppb
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
US96thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
74%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.3%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.6%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Sylvan Springs, Alabama (ZIP 35118) ranks in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,877th) and the top 16% of Alabama (99th).
A handful of measures stand out most sharply across the profile here: modeled tree cover rests in the top 7.3% nationally, and mammography stands in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled colon screening lies in the top 8.9% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 12.9% nationally. On the other side, lead in tap water sits in the top 3.9% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 4.5% nationally, and slow internet speeds settles in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 9.9% nationally, humid heat registers in the top 10.6% nationally, and high cholesterol rests in the top 8.2% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Close by, ZIP 35068, about 5.9 miles away, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
35005
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.19
Closest healthier
35068
Alabamaabout 5.9 mi away
Score 53.56
Similar health profile
42122
Kentucky96% similar profile
Score 54.67
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 | 32.2% | 29.4–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 39.4–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.6–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.6% | 40.3–47.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 29.8–38.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.6–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.6–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.2–82.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 78.0–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.2–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 68.7–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.3% | 56.6–63.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 75.0–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.2–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.2–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 23.0–30.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 29.9–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.0% | 17.5–22.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.3% | 32.5–40.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.9–24.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.3–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.0–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.0% | 32.1–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 48.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 39.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $64,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $164,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,177 | $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 | 69.5 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 69.5, 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