ZIP code
35254
in Birmingham, AlabamaPopulation 1,749
51.36/ 100
Ranked #14,342 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #97 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #34 of 116 Birmingham, AL ZIPs (top 29%)
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.
High cholesterol
14.3%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
11.4%
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
1.3%
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
0.80%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
51%
in the top 0.09% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Stroke
0.50%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
23.8%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
3.0%
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
2.4%
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
23.5%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 35254, one of several in Birmingham, Alabama stands in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,342nd) and the top 16% of Alabama (97th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled high blood pressure settles in the bottom 0.4% nationally, and diabetes rests in the bottom 0.2% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lands in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and stroke settles in the bottom 0.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability rests in the bottom 0.4% nationally, hearing disability lands in the bottom 0.4% nationally, and obesity settles in the bottom 2.1% nationally. On the other side, modeled loneliness rests in the top 0.09% nationally, binge drinking lands in the top 0.9% nationally, and cognitive disability settles in the top 2.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, walkability runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. ZIP 35205, about 1.3 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
in the top 0.8%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.5%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.4%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.5%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.9%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.9%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 9.1 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 99.3 (top 1%) — 90 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,893 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35204
Alabamashares a border
Score 31.58
Closest healthier
35205
Alabamaabout 1.3 mi away
Score 58.38
Similar health profile
20052
District of Columbia100% similar profile
Score 50.86
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 | 4.5% | 3.6–5.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 11.4% | 9.4–13.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 0.8% | 0.7–1.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 0.8% | 0.6–0.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 1.8% | 1.2–2.5 |
| Depression among adults | 32.9% | 28.3–37.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 1.3% | 1.0–1.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 14.3% | 12.3–16.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.0% | 17.7–26.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 0.5% | 0.4–0.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.4% | 19.3–30.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 4.7–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 18.4% | 15.0–22.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.5% | 64.7–74.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 65.9% | 58.2–72.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 54.6% | 48.4–60.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 53.1–61.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 23.8% | 20.2–28.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.2% | 3.9–9.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.1% | 11.1–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 29.2–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.6% | 8.3–16.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 26.2% | 20.8–30.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 7.2% | 5.4–9.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 23.5% | 17.4–29.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.9% | 24.7–39.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 2.4% | 1.9–3.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 6.7–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.1–4.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.1% | 0.8–1.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.4–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 18.6–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 10.1–23.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 4.4–11.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 6.7–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 8.4–15.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 51.0% | 45.0–56.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 4.2–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | — | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | — | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | — | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | — | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | — | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | — | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | — | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | — | 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 | — | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 19.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 73.1 yr ± 1.12 | 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 1.12 years of 73.1, 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