ZIP code
35907
in Southside, AlabamaPopulation 9,357
53.33/ 100
Ranked #11,589 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #74 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 12.0%)
Ranked #1 of 10 Gadsden, AL ZIPs (top 10.0%)
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.
PFOA in drinking water
85.6%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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
85.6%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
92.9%
in the top 11.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
4.4%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
95.7%
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
106 days/year
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS81stDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
5.4%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS20thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
3.9%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
6.0%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
8.5%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Southside, Alabama (ZIP 35907) stands in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,589th) and the top 12.0% of Alabama (74th).
The bright spots in the data define much of the story here: homeownership sits in the top 11.9% nationally, and poverty resides in the bottom 16% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands in the top 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Grocery resides in the top 18% nationally. On the other side, PFOA in drinking water stands in the top 10.2% nationally, PFOS in drinking water sits in the top 10.5% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 14.2% nationally. Modeled short sleep stands in the top 14.4% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the top 18% nationally.
For clarity, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. ZIP 35112, about 24 miles away, 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 Gadsden, 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 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
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 76.5 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $76,390 predicts 79.0 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,502 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 76.5 ± 1.4 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.0 years — 2.5 years above them.
Ranked #1,122 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
35901
Alabamashares a border
Score 36.76
Closest healthier
35112
Alabamaabout 24 mi away
Score 54.80
Similar health profile
42366
Kentucky96% similar profile
Score 52.42
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 | 30.9% | 27.5–34.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 36.3–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 20.9–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 37.2–45.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 31.2–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 9.0–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 5.8–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 74.8–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.6–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.1–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.1% | 65.7–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 62.2–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.1% | 71.4–84.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.0–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 10.9–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.9% | 20.6–29.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 34.5–47.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 15.9–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 29.0–37.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.0–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.4–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.2–7.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 28.7–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 56.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $76,390 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $227,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,184 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 76.5, 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