ZIP code
35824
in Huntsville, AlabamaPopulation 9,645
61.74/ 100
Ranked #3,670 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.5%)
Ranked #15 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 2.5%)
Ranked #6 of 31 Huntsville, AL ZIPs (top 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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.4% 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 ›Mammography
82.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.3%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.5%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
36.9 per million
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.3 mi
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
90.7%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
90.7%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.5%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 35824, one of several in Huntsville, Alabama lands in the top 11.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,670th) and the top 2.5% of Alabama (15th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: modeled mammography registers in the top 3.4% nationally, energy burden resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Modeled stroke is in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and hearing disability sits in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 4.4% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water rests in the top 8.4% nationally. PFOS in drinking water registers in the top 8.6% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. On the overall standing, ZIP 35756, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
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
3 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.9 ± 3.4 years. A median household income of $103,619 predicts 80.2 years — 3.7 years above.
Ranked #242 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 83.9 ± 3.4 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.4 years — 7.5 years above them.
Ranked #6 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 20.6; chronic-disease standing 85.4 — 65 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,893 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
35756
Alabamashares a border
Score 63.59
Closest healthier
35758
Alabamashares a border
Score 64.08
Similar health profile
20319
District of Columbia99% similar profile
Score 67.89
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 | 24.0% | 21.3–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.4–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.7–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.4% | 18.3–24.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 9.1–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.7–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 33.2–44.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.6% | 5.3–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.4–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.9% | 69.7–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.5–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.8–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 68.4–76.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 63.9–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.3% | 76.4–87.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.0–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.6% | 7.8–11.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.1% | 15.9–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.2% | 32.1–42.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.9% | 22.4–29.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.0–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.4–13.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.9–8.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.2–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 29.5–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 62.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 66.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 14.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $103,619 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $390,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,271 | $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 | 83.9 yr ± 1.74 | 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 1.74 years of 83.9, 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