ZIP code
35405
in Tuscaloosa, AlabamaPopulation 49,420
48.18/ 100
Ranked #18,702 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #155 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #12 of 31 Tuscaloosa, AL ZIPs (top 39%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
649 units
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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 ›Short sleep
43.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43.9%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
131.4 days/year
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
54.4%
in the bottom 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 12.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
5.5%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 35405, one of several in Tuscaloosa, Alabama ranks in the bottom 42% nationally (18,702nd) and the top 25% of Alabama (155th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: subsidized affordable housing is in the top 3.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally, short sleep is in the top 6.1% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 7.6% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 8.1% nationally, obesity is in the top 6.5% nationally, and humid heat registers in the top 9.6% nationally. Floodplain exposure lies in the top 11.0% nationally, and homeownership is in the bottom 11.6% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 35463, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
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
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 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $62,301 predicts 78.2 years — 2.6 years below.
Ranked #3,559 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 ± 1.1 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
35401
Alabamashares a border
Score 32.53
Closest healthier
35463
Alabamashares a border
Score 50.67
Similar health profile
70816
Louisiana97% similar profile
Score 50.09
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 | 25.4% | 22.7–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.1% | 37.4–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.4–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 33.7–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.9% | 38.2–49.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.1–17.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.2–11.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.0–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.1% | 79.1–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.5–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.0–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.5% | 52.6–60.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.8–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 11.9–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 23.4–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.2% | 37.8–48.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 19.2–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.6% | 30.8–38.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.6% | 23.2–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.5% | 20.9–26.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 31.5–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 46.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 15.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 35.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $62,301 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $234,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,061 | $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 ± 0.54 | 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 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