ZIP code
35613
in Athens, AlabamaPopulation 25,523
53.67/ 100
Ranked #11,123 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #67 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 10.9%)
Ranked #15 of 31 Huntsville, AL ZIPs (top 48%)
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
1.1%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS4thDefinition & 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 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
2.0%
in the bottom 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
5.0%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & 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
102 days/year
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$100,845
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 35613, one of several in Athens, Alabama, overall, ranks in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,123rd) and the top 10.9% of Alabama (67th).
This area's most favorable readings come through plainly in the numbers: modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 14.1% nationally, and poverty registers in the bottom 19% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 4.0% nationally, modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 6.1% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water is in the top 15.0% nationally. PFOS in drinking water sits in the top 16% nationally, and modeled pfas lands in the top 16% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lies in the top 19% nationally, and humid heat stands in the top 22% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, 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 35749, just across the boundary, comes out 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. 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
“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 77.9 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $100,845 predicts 80.1 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,938 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
35611
Alabamashares a border
Score 44.84
Closest healthier
35749
Alabamashares a border
Score 56.90
Similar health profile
64083
Missouri95% similar profile
Score 56.54
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 | 30.4% | 26.9–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.7% | 36.2–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.6–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.3% | 36.7–45.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 30.4–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 8.8–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.5–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 76.2–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 63.1–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.7% | 58.6–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 69.4–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.4–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.0% | 19.9–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.9% | 31.2–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 28.4–36.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.5–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 28.6–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 54.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 19.2% | 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 | $100,845 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $329,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,264 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 77.9, 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