ZIP code
35545
in Belk, AlabamaPopulation 102
37.82/ 100
Ranked #28,121 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.4%)
Ranked #470 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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.
Hearing disability
12.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
51.5%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
47%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
11.0%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
23.2%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
5.6%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.7 per million
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Belk, Alabama (ZIP 35545) sits in the bottom 12.4% nationally (28,121st) and the bottom 24% of Alabama (470th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled hearing disability registers in the top 2.3% nationally, high blood pressure lands in the top 2.2% nationally, and high cholesterol resides in the top 1.5% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 4.3% nationally, mobility disability settles in the top 6.4% nationally, and stroke stands in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 6.9% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 2.7% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the bottom 2.9% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss registers in the bottom 6.4% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 35555, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35555
Alabamashares a border
Score 38.87
Closest healthier
35574
Alabamashares a border
Score 43.27
Similar health profile
74468
Oklahoma99% similar profile
Score 40.28
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 | 40.9% | 36.7–45.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.5% | 46.5–56.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.4% | 9.8–15.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.3% | 21.4–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.9% | 15.2–20.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 47.0% | 41.9–52.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 32.1–49.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.6% | 4.6–6.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.1% | 14.6–22.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 6.7–12.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.4–85.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.4% | 78.9–85.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 85.7–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.1–67.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.4% | 55.2–63.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.9% | 60.8–77.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.2–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 14.4–23.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.0% | 26.4–40.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 29.3–43.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.2% | 22.2–32.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.2–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 15.4–21.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 14.1–20.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.7% | 36.4–48.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 9.6–14.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.2% | 18.9–27.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 4.9–7.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 5.9–9.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 17.7–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.3% | 12.8–22.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 9.6–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 8.6–14.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.1–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 26.8–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.8–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 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 | 23.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 8.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 28.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $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 | 74.6 yr ± 1.18 | 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 1.18 years of 74.6, 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