ZIP code
35235
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 20,526
48.93/ 100
Ranked #17,765 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #143 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #43 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 37%)
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
84.3%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Loneliness
39.7%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.45 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
320 units
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
14.3%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.3%
in the top 13.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
2.1%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
95%
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 35235, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama sits in the bottom 45% nationally (17,765th) and the top 23% of Alabama (143rd).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled mammography stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 3.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Pharmacy stands in the top 6.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 7.6% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 4.5% nationally, and loneliness stands in the top 4.7% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff resides in the top 8.2% nationally, and housing insecurity sits in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the top 10.5% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 35126, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
“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 75.6 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $63,295 predicts 78.3 years — 2.7 years below.
Ranked #3,692 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 75.6 ± 1.4 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
35126
Alabamashares a border
Score 49.32
Closest healthier
35173
Alabamashares a border
Score 60.38
Similar health profile
63033
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 48.77
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 | 28.7% | 26.2–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.3% | 42.1–48.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.5–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 35.9–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 36.2–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.1–17.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.4–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.8–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.5–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.2–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.7–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.5% | 54.7–62.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.3% | 79.6–88.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.7% | 27.3–34.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 35.7–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.5% | 21.1–26.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.3% | 33.9–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.7% | 23.7–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.5% | 22.9–28.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.3% | 17.8–23.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.7% | 36.0–43.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 38.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 39.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $63,295 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $194,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,404 | $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 | 75.6 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 75.6, 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