ZIP code
35614
in Athens, AlabamaPopulation 7,618
47.19/ 100
Ranked #19,943 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #183 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #25 of 31 Huntsville, AL ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS3rdDefinition & 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 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
5.4%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 35614, one of several in Athens, Alabama, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 38% nationally (19,943rd) and the top 30% of Alabama (183rd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 3.4% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 11.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 4.5% nationally, crowded housing registers in the top 12.3% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water stands in the top 13.6% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 13.7% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water is in the top 14.4% nationally. Modeled pfas resides in the top 15% nationally. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat lies in the top 19% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 35613, 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. 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
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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 74.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $56,967 predicts 77.9 years — 3.4 years below.
Ranked #4,621 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.2 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.4 years — 2.0 years below them.
Ranked #1,580 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35610
Alabamashares a border
Score 43.54
Closest healthier
35613
Alabamashares a border
Score 53.67
Similar health profile
63080
Missouri92% similar profile
Score 45.01
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 | 31.0% | 27.4–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.4% | 36.9–45.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 25.1% | 21.3–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 36.9–45.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.6–47.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 10.8–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 8.9–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.3–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.0–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.3% | 60.0–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.1% | 53.7–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.7% | 63.8–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.2–18.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 13.4–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 22.8–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.1% | 32.3–46.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 19.1–24.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.1–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 31.4–40.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.2–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.6–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.9–13.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 30.0–40.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 58.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 20.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $56,967 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $192,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $925 | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 74.4, 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