ZIP code
35611
in Athens, AlabamaPopulation 29,969
44.84/ 100
Ranked #22,586 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #253 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #28 of 31 Huntsville, AL ZIPs (bottom 9.7%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.90%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
485 units
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
105.2 days/year
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS80thDefinition & 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 the composite measure, ZIP 35611, one of several in Athens, Alabama stands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,586th) and the top 41% of Alabama (253rd).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Physicians stands in the top 13.8% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 13.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 2.9% nationally, expected annual loss stands in the top 4.1% nationally, and pfas sits in the top 12.7% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 35613, just across the boundary, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Huntsville, 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
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.7 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $57,377 predicts 77.9 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,401 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35601
Alabamashares a border
Score 35.03
Closest healthier
35613
Alabamashares a border
Score 53.67
Similar health profile
73105
Oklahoma94% similar profile
Score 43.83
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 | 31.9% | 28.4–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.6% | 39.1–47.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.4–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 36.9–45.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.9% | 32.7–48.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.4% | 13.3–19.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.4% | 9.8–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.7–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.4–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.6–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.1% | 61.8–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.4% | 51.1–59.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.8% | 66.7–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.2–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.5–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 24.7–33.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.3% | 33.4–47.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 21.1–26.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.1% | 33.4–42.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 20.6–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.9% | 16.5–21.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.0% | 30.7–41.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 45.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 17.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 40.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $57,377 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $225,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $856 | $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 ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 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