ZIP code
35222
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 8,361
58.51/ 100
Ranked #5,988 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #38 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 6.2%)
Ranked #16 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 13.8%)
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
84%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Walkability
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.24 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.71 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.3%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.6 mi
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS9thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
5.0%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 35222, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama ranks in the top 19% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,988th) and the top 6.2% of Alabama (38th).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: modeled mammography sits in the top 1.3% nationally, and transit rests in the top 4.3% nationally. Walkability is in the top 5.1% nationally, and grocery stands in the top 5.4% nationally. Civic settles in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled colon screening lies in the top 6.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 8.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 9.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 35213, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
“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
3 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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.5 ± 2.0 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.2 years — 3.2 years above them.
Ranked #695 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 16.7; chronic-disease standing 81.7 — 65 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,915 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, 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 77.5 ± 2.0 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
35203
Alabamashares a border
Score 40.83
Closest healthier
35213
Alabamashares a border
Score 69.22
Similar health profile
01845
Massachusetts97% similar profile
Score 64.08
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 | 23.5% | 21.1–26.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 32.3–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 21.1–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 33.6–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 29.2–37.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.5–14.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.1% | 71.4–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.9–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.5–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.3% | 69.7–76.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 61.3–67.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.0% | 79.3–87.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.2–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.4% | 18.7–24.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.4% | 29.6–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 26.0–32.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 31.9–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 61.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 47.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 13.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $84,066 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $399,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,114 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 77.4, 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