ZIP code
35226
in Hoover, AlabamaPopulation 38,588
65.72/ 100
Ranked #1,730 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 5.4%)
Ranked #4 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 0.7%)
Ranked #4 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 3.5%)
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
84.9%
in the top 0.7% 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 ›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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.5%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.1%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.8%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$124,516
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.1%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 35226, one of several in Hoover, Alabama, on the composite measure, lands in the top 5.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,730th) and the top 0.7% of Alabama (4th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled mammography resides in the top 0.7% nationally, colon screening lies in the top 3.8% nationally, and housing insecurity settles in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally, household income is in the top 8.3% nationally, and modeled transportation rests in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Fatal road crashes sits in the bottom 8.9% nationally, and lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 7.7% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 35243, about 1.8 miles away.
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 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 1.0%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 99%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
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 80.7 ± 1.1 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.5 years — 6.2 years above them.
Ranked #29 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 23.5; chronic-disease standing 85.9 — 62 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,641 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 80.7 ± 1.1 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
35022
Alabamashares a border
Score 56.04
Closest healthier
35243
Alabamaabout 1.8 mi away
Score 66.66
Similar health profile
40207
Kentucky99% similar profile
Score 68.55
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 | 25.0% | 22.6–27.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.6% | 31.5–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.9–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 36.1–42.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.0% | 25.2–33.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.1% | 5.8–8.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.6–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 74.0–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.6–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.4% | 88.0–90.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.5% | 71.0–77.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.2% | 67.9–74.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.9% | 80.4–88.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.5–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–10.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–21.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 26.8–34.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 23.3–29.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–5.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 29.9–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 69.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 46.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 14.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $124,516 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $411,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,499 | $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 | 80.7 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 80.7, 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