ZIP code
35184
in West Blocton, AlabamaPopulation 5,821
39.25/ 100
Ranked #27,242 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #425 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #95 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Unemployment rate
11.0%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
71.6%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.6% 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 ›Crowded housing
5.8%
in the top 11.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mammography
70.8%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
61.3%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, West Blocton, Alabama (ZIP 35184) comes out in the bottom 15% nationally (27,242nd) and the bottom 31% of Alabama (425th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled tree cover resides in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Set against that, unemployment lies in the top 7.9% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the top 10.6% nationally, and crowded housing registers in the top 11.2% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the top 9.0% nationally, and cognitive disability lands in the top 13.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep is in the top 14.0% nationally, and high blood pressure resides in the top 13.6% nationally.
In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 35022, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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 72.9 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $54,756 predicts 77.7 years — 4.8 years below.
Ranked #5,477 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 75.0; chronic-disease standing 19.1 — 56 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,044 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35022
Alabamashares a border
Score 56.04
Closest healthier
35035
Alabamashares a border
Score 44.82
Similar health profile
72949
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 36.72
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% | 29.2–36.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.6% | 40.2–49.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 22.5–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 38.2–47.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 34.8–51.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.3% | 17.6–25.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.5–13.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.7–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.2–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.4–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.3% | 56.2–66.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.3% | 46.3–54.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.8% | 62.0–78.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.0–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.0% | 17.3–22.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.0% | 27.2–37.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.7% | 33.9–47.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.5% | 23.3–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.2–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.1% | 16.9–21.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.6% | 35.9–45.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.4% | 17.1–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.2% | 21.6–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.2% | 18.1–24.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.0–18.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 30.2–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 12.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 34.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $54,756 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $122,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $819 | $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 | 72.9 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 72.9, 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