ZIP code

35208

in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 13,412

ZipVitals Score

How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

36.52/ 100

Ranked #28,749 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.4%)

Ranked #499 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 19%)

Ranked #102 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 12.1%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

Jump to a section

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.

Diabetes

24.4%

in the top 0.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th

US99th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

55.8%

in the top 0.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st

US99th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Self-care disability

8.3%

in the top 2.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd

US98th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

6.7%

in the top 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st

US98th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

300 intersections/sq mi

in the top 0.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th

US99th

Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

45.8%

in the top 2.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST89th

US98th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

25.7%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th

US97th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

10.2%

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st

US96th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

10.3%

in the bottom 1.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th

US2nd

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

20.6%

in the top 2.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th

US98th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, ZIP 35208, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama ranks in the bottom 10.4% nationally (28,749th) and the bottom 19% of Alabama (499th).

A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled diabetes registers in the top 0.6% nationally, and high blood pressure rests in the top 0.7% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 2.3% nationally, and stroke lies in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep lands in the top 2.2% nationally, mobility disability sits in the top 2.7% nationally, and vision disability is in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff settles in the top 2.2% nationally. On the brighter side, walkability resides in the top 0.8% nationally, and modeled binge drinking registers in the bottom 1.7% nationally.

Read against the ZIPs closest to it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Close by, ZIP 35064, just across the boundary, 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.

Compare withinUnited StatesAlabamaMetro area

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of the United States

Preventive Care

healthier than 79%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 88%

About typical

close to the middle of the United States

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 42%

Holding it back

less healthy than most of the United States

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 5%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 2%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 20%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 11%

11%

Disability

healthier than 6%

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of Alabama

Preventive Care

healthier than 90%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 84%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 85%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 90%

Holding it back

less healthy than most of Alabama

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 15%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 6%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 12%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Disability

healthier than 16%

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of this metro area

Preventive Care

healthier than 78%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 75%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 88%

Holding it back

less healthy than most of this metro area

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 6%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 7%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 26%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 17%

11%

Disability

healthier than 11%

“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 72.3 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $38,561 predicts 76.3 years — 4.0 years below.
Ranked #5,074 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 72.3 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #471 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.

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	33.6%	30.7–36.6
High blood pressure among adults	55.8%	52.4–59.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults	5.7%	5.2–6.3
Current asthma among adults	11.5%	10.2–13.0
Coronary heart disease among adults	8.6%	7.8–9.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults	9.7%	8.5–10.9
Depression among adults	19.9%	17.4–22.7
Diagnosed diabetes among adults	24.4%	21.9–27.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened	41.9%	38.5–45.3
Obesity among adults	47.8%	43.0–52.7
Stroke among adults	6.7%	6.1–7.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years	24.9%	21.1–29.1

PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years	11.8%	9.9–13.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure	82.3%	80.1–84.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults	84.9%	82.5–87.1
Cholesterol screening among adults	87.5%	85.9–89.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years	70.0%	66.0–73.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults	47.2%	43.4–50.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years	83.5%	78.6–87.6

Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Binge drinking among adults	10.3%	8.6–12.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults	18.7%	16.3–21.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults	38.8%	34.6–43.2
Short sleep duration among adults	45.8%	41.3–50.3

Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults	31.3%	28.1–34.7
Frequent mental distress among adults	18.3%	16.4–20.4
Frequent physical distress among adults	16.0%	14.2–18.0

DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults	18.4%	16.4–20.6
Any disability among adults	43.8%	39.9–47.9
Hearing disability among adults	6.8%	6.1–7.7
Independent living disability among adults	13.6%	12.2–15.2
Mobility disability among adults	25.7%	23.1–28.6
Self-care disability among adults	8.3%	7.5–9.2
Vision disability among adults	10.2%	9.2–11.3

Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults	31.0%	27.7–34.8
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults	36.9%	33.3–40.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults	32.3%	28.7–36.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults	26.3%	23.4–29.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults	17.5%	15.7–19.6
Loneliness among adults	41.5%	37.7–45.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults	20.6%	18.3–23.1

Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed

Measure	Value	US median (p10–p90)	AL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate	23.0%	10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364	15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623
Uninsured 18–64	26.6%	9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286	13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625
No HS diploma (25+)	13.4%	7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505	13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626
Bachelor's or higher (25+)	20.1%	23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505	16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626
Unemployment rate (16+)	7.5%	3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274	4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622
Households without a vehicle	10.1%	3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322	4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622
Broadband subscription	86.8%	89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322	84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)	35.0%	23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322	21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622
Homeownership rate	64.2%	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	3.8%	2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553	1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628
Single-parent households	34.1%	53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087	50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617
Population 65+	23.2%	19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553	19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628
Median age	43.4 yr	42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292	41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621
Median household income	$38,561	$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318	$55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587
Median home value	$97,100	$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049	$160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568
Median gross rent	$1,031	$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	72.3 yr ± 0.69	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 0.69 years of 72.3, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

Statistically similar ZIPs nationally

Similar means a ZIP whose health profile is shaped like this one’s — the same pattern of strengths and weaknesses across the nine health domains behind the Score, not similar demographics or income. The percentage is how closely the two patterns line up. A very similar ZIP can still have a different overall Score.

35064Alabama99% similar
Score 38.73View 35064 Compare this ZIP with 35064
35221Alabama99% similar
Score 32.56View 35221 Compare this ZIP with 35221
35204Alabama99% similar
Score 31.58View 35204 Compare this ZIP with 35204
35211Alabama98% similar
Score 34.17View 35211 Compare this ZIP with 35211
46404Indiana97% similar
Score 31.77View 46404 Compare this ZIP with 46404
27831North Carolina97% similar
Score 32.28View 27831 Compare this ZIP with 27831
23889Virginia97% similar
Score 36.89View 23889 Compare this ZIP with 23889
31825Georgia97% similar
Score 36.54View 31825 Compare this ZIP with 31825
23856Virginia97% similar
Score 36.20View 23856 Compare this ZIP with 23856
35218Alabama97% similar
Score 29.38View 35218 Compare this ZIP with 35218

as of 2026

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