ZIP code
35986
in Rainsville, AlabamaPopulation 8,207
48.84/ 100
Ranked #17,875 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #145 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 23%)
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.
Fiber broadband
99.9%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.99 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Mammography
71.7%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
94.6 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 ›Dry extreme heat
0.9 days/year
in the bottom 33% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS33rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
5.2%
in the top 36% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS64thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Rainsville, Alabama (ZIP 35986) stands in the bottom 44% nationally (17,875th) and the top 23% of Alabama (145th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: fiber broadband is in the top 2.0% nationally, and dental providers registers in the top 6.9% nationally. Pharmacy lies in the top 9.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 18% nationally. Homeownership registers in the top 19% nationally, and unemployment lies in the bottom 19% nationally. By contrast, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 8.2% nationally, pfas registers in the top 21% nationally, and high cholesterol lies in the top 19% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 23% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 35769, about 6.3 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.
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 74%
16%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
“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 73.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $68,056 predicts 78.6 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,441 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
35744
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.07
Closest healthier
35769
Alabamaabout 6.3 mi away
Score 49.02
Similar health profile
65757
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 49.35
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 | 31.1% | 27.8–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 37.4–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 22.0–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 37.2–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.0% | 27.8–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.9% | 11.3–16.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.1–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.0–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.3–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.8–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 60.3–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 52.5–60.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.7% | 63.2–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.4–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 22.6–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 31.9–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.8–24.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 31.7–40.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.1–18.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 19.6–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–12.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.0–12.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.7–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 66.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 22.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 46.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $68,056 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $221,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $558 | $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 | 73.8 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 73.8, 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