ZIP code
35585
in Spruce Pine, AlabamaPopulation 1,642
41.40/ 100
Ranked #25,746 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #356 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 42%)
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.
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 ›Tooth loss
23.9%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.9 mi
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
5.8%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.5%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
62.1%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Spruce Pine, Alabama (ZIP 35585) stands in the bottom 20% nationally (25,746th) and the bottom 42% of Alabama (356th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: fatal road crashes lies at the national minimum, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 9.3% nationally. Fiber broadband registers in the top 11.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover lies in the top 14.1% nationally. Modeled arsenic is in the bottom 15% nationally. By contrast, modeled tooth loss registers in the top 8.9% nationally, crowded housing lies in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol is in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled hearing disability registers in the top 14.4% nationally. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
For clarity, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 35582, about 4.5 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 83%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
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 82.9; chronic-disease standing 18.3 — 65 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,420 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
35571
Alabamashares a border
Score 33.23
Closest healthier
35582
Alabamaabout 4.5 mi away
Score 43.96
Similar health profile
72611
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 38.30
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 | 32.8% | 29.4–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.4% | 39.0–47.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.9% | 22.2–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.5% | 39.1–48.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 32.2–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.9% | 20.0–28.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 9.6–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.0–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.2–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 56.6–67.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.3% | 48.1–56.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 63.4–79.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.1–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.5% | 15.6–21.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 24.9–35.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 30.4–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.6% | 22.3–29.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.5% | 34.4–44.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 16.4–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.1–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 16.5–22.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 12.9–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.8–15.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.6% | 29.2–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.8% | 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 | 54.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 36.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $92,679 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $211,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $955 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 75.4, 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