ZIP code
35963
in Dawson, AlabamaPopulation 1,398
38.60/ 100
Ranked #27,665 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 13.8%)
Ranked #447 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
Poverty rate
31.7%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.1%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
20%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Mammography
71.2%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
61.2%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
93.7 days/year
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS74thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Dawson, Alabama (ZIP 35963) ranks in the bottom 13.8% nationally (27,665th) and the bottom 28% of Alabama (447th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband lands in the top 8.1% nationally. On the other hand, poverty registers in the top 5.9% nationally, modeled cognitive disability sits in the top 9.4% nationally, and modeled independent living disability rests in the top 11.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health is in the top 13.7% nationally, short sleep stands in the top 14.0% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the top 13.9% nationally. Modeled tooth loss lies in the top 13.9% nationally, and high cholesterol resides in the top 12.1% nationally.
For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 35962, just across the boundary. Modeled cognitive disability resides in the top 9.4% nationally.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
“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 74.5; chronic-disease standing 19.4 — 55 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,106 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
35961
Alabamashares a border
Score 31.33
Closest healthier
35962
Alabamashares a border
Score 38.64
Similar health profile
65084
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 37.08
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 | 32.7% | 29.3–36.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.5% | 40.3–49.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.8 |
| Depression among adults | 27.1% | 23.2–31.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 38.3–47.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 30.9–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.4% | 17.5–25.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.0% | 10.9–15.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.8–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 73.9–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.5% | 80.0–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.2% | 55.9–66.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.7% | 45.7–54.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 62.9–78.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.8–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.8% | 18.0–24.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.1% | 28.1–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.7% | 33.9–47.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.7% | 24.2–31.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.4–22.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.0% | 17.8–22.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.0% | 37.0–47.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.9% | 17.4–22.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.4% | 21.5–29.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.7% | 18.5–25.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 13.8–19.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 30.2–41.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 31.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 6.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 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 | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 53.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $59,926 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $82,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $668 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 74.9, 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