ZIP code
35234
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 3,879
22.32/ 100
Ranked #31,722 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 1.1%)
Ranked #617 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 0.4%)
Ranked #116 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (bottom 0.9%)
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.
Self-care disability
11.7%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
28.3%
in the top 0.10% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
8.5%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
14.5%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
18.2%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
32.2%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
40.1%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
59%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
35%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
48.2%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 35234, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 1.1% nationally (31,722nd) and the bottom 0.4% of Alabama (617th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled self-care disability lands in the top 0.2% nationally, diabetes resides in the top 0.10% nationally, and stroke lies in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled vision disability settles in the top 0.6% nationally, independent living disability stands in the top 0.5% nationally, and mobility disability is in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the top 0.7% nationally, and high blood pressure sits in the top 0.3% nationally. Modeled tooth loss registers in the top 1.2% nationally, and food insecurity lands in the top 0.4% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 35203, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 1%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 1.0%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 1%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
“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
35203
Alabamashares a border
Score 40.83
Closest healthier
35204
Alabamashares a border
Score 31.58
Similar health profile
46402
Indiana99% similar profile
Score 21.92
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 | 36.3% | 33.4–39.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 59.0% | 55.7–62.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.4 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 19.0–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 28.3% | 25.7–31.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.6% | 40.2–47.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 51.0% | 46.3–56.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 35.0% | 30.3–39.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.5% | 14.0–19.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.2% | 80.1–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 81.2–86.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.6% | 82.7–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.7% | 59.3–68.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 37.6% | 34.0–41.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 73.8–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 9.9% | 8.3–11.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 25.5% | 22.1–28.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 47.3% | 42.7–52.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 47.7% | 43.2–52.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 40.1% | 36.1–44.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.2–22.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.6–22.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.9% | 20.2–25.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 51.6% | 47.3–55.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 32.2% | 29.1–35.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–16.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.3% | 28.7–36.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 48.2% | 43.8–53.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 46.4% | 41.6–51.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.4% | 28.8–36.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 23.0% | 20.4–25.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 42.4% | 38.3–46.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 26.8% | 23.9–30.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 62.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 53.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 20.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 19.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 42.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $26,831 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $114,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $858 | $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 | 67.6 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 67.6, 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