ZIP code
35401
in Tuscaloosa, AlabamaPopulation 43,459
32.53/ 100
Ranked #30,164 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 6.0%)
Ranked #560 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 9.6%)
Ranked #25 of 31 Tuscaloosa, AL ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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.
Cognitive disability
25.8%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
32%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
15.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,027 units
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
20.1%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
43.5%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
27%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
57.6%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
40.9%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
ZIP 35401, one of several in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 6.0% nationally (30,164th) and the bottom 9.6% of Alabama (560th).
The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: modeled cognitive disability rests in the top 0.8% nationally, tooth loss lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and independent living disability sits in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the top 2.1% nationally, poverty registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 2.6% nationally. Homeownership lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled loneliness resides in the top 2.9% nationally. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 1.3% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 35404, 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 Tuscaloosa, 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 63%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 97%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
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 ›
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 11.3; chronic-disease standing 62.5 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,505 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
35404
Alabamashares a border
Score 40.28
Closest healthier
35405
Alabamashares a border
Score 48.18
Similar health profile
72068
Arkansas97% similar profile
Score 33.93
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 | 19.8% | 17.7–21.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 32.1–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 29.2% | 25.4–33.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.7% | 28.6–35.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.6% | 37.7–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 32.0% | 27.2–37.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.5% | 11.6–15.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.9% | 65.0–68.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.5–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 71.1% | 68.0–74.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.8% | 58.8–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 44.6% | 40.8–48.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.8–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.6–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.0–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.5% | 28.2–37.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.1% | 38.7–49.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 24.8–31.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 24.8% | 22.0–27.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 25.8% | 23.1–28.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.1% | 39.5–48.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.3% | 23.6–31.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 36.2% | 32.2–40.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 29.6% | 26.0–32.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 20.1% | 17.8–22.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.9% | 36.1–45.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 43.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 16.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 50.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 27.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 35.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 9.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 21.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $29,152 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $144,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $951 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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