ZIP code
35214
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 17,027
45.11/ 100
Ranked #22,285 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #237 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #65 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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.
Mammography
86.1%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
21.2%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
52.4%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.1%
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Stroke
5.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
15.7%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
28.8%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 35214, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama ranks in the bottom 31% nationally (22,285th) and the top 38% of Alabama (237th).
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: modeled diabetes lands in the top 2.3% nationally, and high blood pressure sits in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled loneliness is in the top 4.2% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled stroke resides in the top 5.3% nationally, utility shutoff registers in the top 6.0% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the top 7.1% nationally. More encouragingly, modeled mammography lies in the top 0.3% nationally, and binge drinking lands in the bottom 3.4% nationally.
To spell things out, 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 35005, 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.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Disability
healthier than 26%
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 ›
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 71.8 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $56,383 predicts 77.8 years — 6.1 years below.
Ranked #5,746 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 71.8 ± 1.7 years.
Ranked #504 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.
Nearby
35005
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.19
Closest healthier
35036
Alabamashares a border
Score 47.22
Similar health profile
64631
Missouri97% similar profile
Score 47.18
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 | 32.6% | 29.7–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 52.4% | 49.1–55.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.4–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.8% | 38.5–45.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.6% | 39.0–48.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.0% | 11.5–16.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.6–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.8–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.7% | 82.3–86.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.9–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 70.5–77.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.7% | 51.0–58.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 86.1% | 81.8–89.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.1% | 9.4–13.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.2% | 30.4–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.2% | 38.0–46.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.6% | 23.8–29.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.3% | 36.7–44.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.3% | 20.0–24.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–8.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.5% | 25.2–32.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.8% | 25.7–32.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.5% | 20.5–26.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.9% | 18.4–23.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.0% | 36.2–44.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 44.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 26.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 44.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $56,383 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $164,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $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 | 71.8 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 71.8, 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