ZIP code
35956
in Boaz, AlabamaPopulation 8,748
43.45/ 100
Ranked #23,952 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #288 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #4 of 10 Gadsden, AL ZIPs (top 40%)
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
42.6%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
2.9%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 35956, one of several in Boaz, Alabama ranks in the bottom 25% nationally (23,952nd) and the top 47% of Alabama (288th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lies in the bottom 21% nationally. Set against that, modeled short sleep lands in the top 7.5% nationally, humid heat sits in the top 16% nationally, and obesity is in the top 16% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 19% nationally, modeled high cholesterol resides in the top 16% nationally, and fatal road crashes registers in the top 21% nationally. Childcare rests at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 19% nationally.
To spell things out, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Close by, ZIP 35950, about 2.2 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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 74%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.0 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $61,290 predicts 78.1 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,302 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
35952
Alabamashares a border
Score 39.60
Closest healthier
35950
Alabamaabout 2.2 mi away
Score 43.96
Similar health profile
65441
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 42.33
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 | 32.3% | 29.0–35.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.9% | 38.7–47.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 22.5–30.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.0% | 37.7–46.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 34.2–49.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.3% | 12.6–18.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.7–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.5–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.1–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.7–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.9% | 59.1–68.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 54.5–62.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 66.2–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.8% | 26.5–35.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.6% | 36.4–49.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 21.7–27.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.8–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.5% | 35.2–44.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.7–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.1–40.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 50.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 38.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $61,290 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $181,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $926 | $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 | 75.0 yr ± 0.85 | 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 0.85 years of 75.0, 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