ZIP code
36251
in Ashland, AlabamaPopulation 5,302
39.58/ 100
Ranked #27,031 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #415 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Child-care access
0.78 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Elder-services access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›High blood pressure
47.3%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.39 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
44.3%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
23.6%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
75%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
Ashland, Alabama (ZIP 36251), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 16% nationally (27,031st) and the bottom 33% of Alabama (415th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: childcare rests in the top 4.1% nationally, elder services sits in the top 7.3% nationally, and grocery registers in the top 7.7% nationally. Pharmacy lands in the top 8.7% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled high blood pressure settles in the top 7.1% nationally, and high cholesterol stands in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled tooth loss is in the top 9.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 10.0% nationally.
In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 35010, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Disability
healthier than 37%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.1 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $50,466 predicts 77.4 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #3,047 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
35010
Alabamashares a border
Score 41.61
Closest healthier
35072
Alabamashares a border
Score 43.73
Similar health profile
65689
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 38.14
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 | 35.0% | 31.3–38.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.3% | 42.6–51.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 20.7–28.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.5% | 14.4–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.3% | 39.5–49.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.4% | 33.5–51.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.6% | 19.8–27.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 9.3–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 77.0–82.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.0–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 58.2–68.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.8% | 47.8–56.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 64.5–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 10.8–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.7% | 16.0–21.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.8% | 27.8–38.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.0% | 31.8–46.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 23.9–30.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.8% | 36.9–46.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.8% | 18.1–23.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 21.1–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.9–23.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.7–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.9–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 29.8–40.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 44.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $50,466 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $169,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $449 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 75.1, 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