ZIP code
35203
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 3,506
40.83/ 100
Ranked #26,171 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #376 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #89 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 23%)
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.
Tooth loss
40.7%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Transit access
33 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Civic-institution access
5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Transportation noise
61.6%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.83 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
1.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
7.6%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
2.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Fatal road crashes
77 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 35203, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama, overall, ranks in the bottom 18% nationally (26,171st) and the bottom 39% of Alabama (376th).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: modeled tooth loss lands in the top 0.4% nationally, transportation noise lies in the top 0.3% nationally, and loud transportation noise stands in the top 0.6% nationally. Fatal road crashes rests in the top 1.0% nationally. On the brighter side, transit registers in the top 0.2% nationally, and civic resides in the top 0.2% nationally. Mental-health providers settles in the top 0.3% nationally, and childcare is in the top 0.3% nationally. Recreation sits in the top 0.7% nationally, and outpatient lands in the top 0.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, transit runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. ZIP 35205, just across the boundary, comes out 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
“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
35204
Alabamashares a border
Score 31.58
Closest healthier
35205
Alabamashares a border
Score 58.38
Similar health profile
17527
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 43.60
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 | 25.2% | 22.8–27.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.4% | 40.3–46.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 20.0–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 33.7–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.9% | 37.4–46.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 40.7% | 36.2–45.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.9% | 10.1–15.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.2% | 71.6–76.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.1–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.7% | 78.9–84.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 62.1–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.4% | 43.2–49.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 73.8–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.6–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.3% | 16.4–22.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.3% | 29.1–37.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.4% | 37.2–45.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 24.4–31.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 16.7–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.4% | 16.8–22.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.4% | 35.3–43.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.8% | 24.5–31.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 33.1% | 28.9–37.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 30.2% | 26.1–33.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.0% | 20.0–26.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.7–19.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.4% | 36.4–44.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 24.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 29.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 45.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 10.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 37.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $47,434 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $334,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,058 | $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 | 69.0 yr ± 1.46 | 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 1.46 years of 69.0, 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