ZIP code
36420
in Andalusia, AlabamaPopulation 10,463
44.13/ 100
Ranked #23,290 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #269 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Outpatient-care access
0.65 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
148.3 days/year
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Child-care access
0.56 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
46.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
44.1%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Andalusia, Alabama (ZIP 36420) places in the bottom 27% nationally (23,290th) and the top 43% of Alabama (269th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: outpatient settles in the top 4.7% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 5.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Physicians rests in the top 6.4% nationally, childcare resides in the top 8.6% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 9.5% nationally. Mental-health providers lands in the top 11.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled humid heat stands in the top 5.2% nationally, high blood pressure registers in the top 8.7% nationally, and high cholesterol settles in the top 6.5% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 36421, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
“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 75.1 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $49,347 predicts 77.3 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,938 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 82.5; chronic-disease standing 15.0 — 68 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,221 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
36421
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.07
Closest healthier
36483
Alabamashares a border
Score 47.94
Similar health profile
72543
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 43.46
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 | 34.0% | 30.6–37.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.5% | 42.4–50.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.1% | 40.0–48.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 31.3–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.6–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.8–24.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 8.9–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.7–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 78.0–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.1–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.1–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.6% | 48.6–56.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 65.9–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.8% | 10.5–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 15.1–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.7% | 27.4–36.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 29.6–42.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.5% | 23.7–29.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 16.1–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.2% | 36.0–44.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 18.0–22.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.0–28.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–23.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.0–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 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 | 47.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 22.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $49,347 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $167,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $699 | $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 ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 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