ZIP code
35543
in Bear Creek, AlabamaPopulation 1,092
30.27/ 100
Ranked #30,715 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.3%)
Ranked #583 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)
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.
Independent-living disability
14.9%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22.4%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
32.4%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.6%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
24.3%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
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 ›Hearing disability
11.8%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
12.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Bear Creek, Alabama (ZIP 35543) places in the bottom 4.3% nationally (30,715th) and the bottom 5.9% of Alabama (583rd).
The measures that define this area's challenges come through directly: modeled independent living disability rests in the top 2.7% nationally, and cognitive disability resides in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health is in the top 4.9% nationally, and mobility disability lands in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 5.4% nationally, modeled hearing disability registers in the top 5.2% nationally, and unemployment settles in the top 5.5% nationally. On the stronger side, fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum, fiber broadband lies in the top 3.1% nationally, and lead in tap water rests at the national minimum.
For readers new to these 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 35564, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 84.0; chronic-disease standing 6.1 (bottom 10%) — 78 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #599 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
35564
Alabamashares a border
Score 38.83
Closest healthier
35565
Alabamashares a border
Score 36.17
Similar health profile
65626
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 32.24
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 | 36.4% | 32.6–40.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.1% | 42.5–51.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.2 |
| Depression among adults | 28.6% | 24.4–33.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.7% | 40.0–49.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.4% | 36.4–54.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.0% | 14.9–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.3% | 11.7–17.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.3–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 74.6–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.6% | 79.0–84.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.3% | 57.0–67.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.0% | 42.9–51.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.8% | 62.1–78.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 24.3% | 20.8–28.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.0% | 32.3–44.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 32.9–47.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 32.4% | 28.3–36.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.4% | 19.7–25.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 47.1% | 41.7–52.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–17.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 24.3% | 21.3–27.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.5% | 21.9–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.9% | 23.0–31.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 19.1–26.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.0–19.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.6% | 31.3–42.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 35.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 69.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 47.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 17.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $29,196 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $97,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $760 | $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 | 71.6 yr ± 0.97 | 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 0.97 years of 71.6, 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