ZIP code
35954
in Attalla, AlabamaPopulation 12,054
41.04/ 100
Ranked #25,998 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #365 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #5 of 10 Gadsden, AL ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Short sleep
44.1%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
39 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35.5 per million
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
6.3%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & 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
In overall standing, Attalla, Alabama (ZIP 35954) comes out in the bottom 19% nationally (25,998th) and the bottom 41% of Alabama (365th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: mental-health providers is in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and pharmacy rests in the top 11.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled short sleep sits in the top 4.4% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 5.7% nationally. Fatal road crashes registers in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 8.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 11.4% nationally, and expected annual loss is in the top 13.4% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 35906, 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 Gadsden, 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%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
“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 71.8 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $59,479 predicts 78.0 years — 6.2 years below.
Ranked #5,764 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 71.8 ± 1.3 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.4 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,036 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
35904
Alabamashares a border
Score 28.80
Closest healthier
35906
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.04
Similar health profile
36206
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 42.05
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 | 33.4% | 30.1–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.9% | 40.8–49.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.0–29.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.2–46.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.4% | 35.3–49.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.0% | 14.1–20.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.1–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.5–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.1–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.1–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 60.2–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.2% | 50.3–58.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.1% | 65.4–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.6–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.3% | 27.9–36.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.1% | 37.8–50.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.8% | 22.9–28.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.3–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.9% | 36.5–45.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 20.7–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 30.7–40.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–9.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.0% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 63.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 20.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 46.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $59,479 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $135,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $727 | $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 | 71.8 yr ± 0.67 | 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 0.67 years of 71.8, 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