ZIP code
35135
in Riverside, AlabamaPopulation 1,718
42.31/ 100
Ranked #24,971 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #317 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #79 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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
0.89%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
52.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
36.5%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Child-care access
0.54 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.6%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Riverside, Alabama (ZIP 35135) lands in the bottom 22% nationally (24,971st) and the bottom 49% of Alabama (317th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and recreation stands in the top 7.5% nationally. Childcare lies in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled disaster risk lands in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Set against that, fatal road crashes sits in the top 3.3% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 6.9% nationally. Floodplain exposure resides in the top 7.4% nationally, modeled loneliness registers in the top 10.5% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 7.5% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 35096, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.9%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35096
Alabamashares a border
Score 44.58
Closest healthier
35125
Alabamashares a border
Score 44.34
Similar health profile
74080
Oklahoma97% similar profile
Score 43.88
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 | 32.7% | 29.1–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.5% | 39.0–48.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 22.3–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.8% | 39.4–48.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.0% | 33.4–49.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 10.8–16.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.1–12.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 75.5–81.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.4–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.2–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 61.6–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 53.4–61.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 66.8–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 14.4–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.1% | 25.2–35.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 29.6–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–27.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.6% | 33.7–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.3–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.8% | 22.0–29.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.8% | 15.9–21.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.4–16.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 32.4–42.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.6% | 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 | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 48.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $68,681 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $250,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,268 | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 74.7, 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