ZIP code
35406
in Tuscaloosa, AlabamaPopulation 18,904
63.88/ 100
Ranked #2,519 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.9%)
Ranked #8 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 1.3%)
Ranked #1 of 31 Tuscaloosa, AL ZIPs (top 3.3%)
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.
Physician access
5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.8%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.9 per million
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.5%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
5.6%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
134.4 days/year
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 35406, one of several in Tuscaloosa, Alabama ranks in the top 7.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,519th) and the top 1.3% of Alabama (8th).
The measures split the difference for this area: physicians is in the top 1.3% nationally, and dental providers stands in the top 3.9% nationally. Lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Modeled transportation resides in the bottom 6.7% nationally, utility shutoff lands in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and colon screening registers in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled tooth loss sits in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 6.5% nationally, and humid heat is in the top 8.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, physicians runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. This ZIP stands out as the strongest overall among its immediate neighbors.
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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 1.0%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
“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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.3 ± 1.6 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 73.7 years — 6.6 years above them.
Ranked #20 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.3 ± 1.6 years.
Ranked #1,408 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
Similar health profile
48324
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 65.19
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 | 27.6% | 24.7–30.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.5% | 33.8–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 19.9–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.9% | 38.0–45.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.7% | 29.4–40.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.6% | 4.5–6.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.6–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 76.8–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.8–85.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.6% | 88.1–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.7% | 69.5–77.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.4% | 68.1–74.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 74.3–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.2–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 28.7–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–15.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.8% | 23.5–30.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.2% | 15.5–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 3.9–5.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–8.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.5% | 24.5–32.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 67.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 46.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 42.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $119,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $481,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,458 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 80.3, 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