ZIP code
35677
in Waterloo, AlabamaPopulation 2,046
45.05/ 100
Ranked #22,348 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #241 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #8 of 13 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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
1.2%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST37thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
6.9%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
71.7%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
95.3%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
14.2 mi
in the top 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.40%
in the bottom 13.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Waterloo, Alabama (ZIP 35677) places in the bottom 30% nationally (22,348th) and the top 39% of Alabama (241st).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Homeownership lies in the top 8.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests in the top 12.6% nationally. Pulling the other way, home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 7.2% nationally, walkability is in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and fatal road crashes lands in the top 10.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands in the top 13.2% nationally, and modeled short sleep registers in the top 13.1% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 35633, 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 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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 86.4; chronic-disease standing 26.6 — 60 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,739 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
35616
Alabamashares a border
Score 38.54
Closest healthier
35633
Alabamashares a border
Score 48.36
Similar health profile
36346
Alabama96% similar profile
Score 41.61
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 | 33.7% | 30.0–37.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 37.1–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 21.7–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 11.8–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 38.3–47.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 28.9–44.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.5% | 15.9–23.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.1–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 76.2–82.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 75.7–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 83.9–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 62.5–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 52.2–60.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 67.0–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.6–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 14.3–20.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 23.8–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.9% | 34.3–47.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.1% | 19.5–26.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.8–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 33.3–43.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.1–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 19.8–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 12.0–18.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.4–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.8–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.9% | 28.7–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.0% | 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 | 71.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 6.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.3% | 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 | 0.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 61.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 24.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 43.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $51,964 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $206,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $673 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 1.44 | 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 1.44 years of 75.5, 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