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ZipVitals

ZIP code

36426

in Brewton, AlabamaPopulation 16,407

37.50/ 100

Ranked #28,281 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.9%)

Ranked #477 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 23%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Arsenic in groundwater

0.98%

in the bottom 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST18th
US2nd
Definition & 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 ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

High blood pressure

48.1%

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

12.9%

in the top 7.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST79th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

143 days/year

in the top 6.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

Short sleep

42.8%

in the top 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST76th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 7.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Fair or poor health

29.7%

in the top 8.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST77th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

22.4%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST73rd
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

17.9%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST71st
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

The read

Judged by its overall standing, Brewton, Alabama (ZIP 36426) sits in the bottom 11.9% nationally (28,281st) and the bottom 23% of Alabama (477th).

continue reading

A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lands in the top 7.1% nationally, and humid heat rests in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep settles in the top 7.0% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the top 8.9% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the top 8.4% nationally.

Placed beside its immediate neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 32531, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 46%

14%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 26%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 31%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 12%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 26%

8%

Disability

healthier than 8%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 21%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 48%

16%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 28%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 34%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 21%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 22%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 32%

8%

Disability

healthier than 22%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 26%

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 ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults35.3%31.8–39.0
High blood pressure among adults48.1%43.9–52.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.0%8.2–9.9
Current asthma among adults10.8%9.6–12.3
Coronary heart disease among adults9.6%8.7–10.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults11.4%10.3–12.7
Depression among adults24.3%20.9–28.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults17.9%15.9–20.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened43.9%39.4–48.5
Obesity among adults42.0%34.2–50.2
Stroke among adults5.4%5.1–5.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years21.6%18.0–25.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years11.9%10.3–13.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.3%77.8–82.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults81.1%77.7–84.2
Cholesterol screening among adults84.8%83.0–86.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years65.0%60.0–69.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults50.5%46.5–54.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years71.4%63.2–78.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.9%10.5–15.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults19.9%17.5–22.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults34.0%29.4–39.0
Short sleep duration among adults42.8%36.0–49.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults29.7%26.7–33.1
Frequent mental distress among adults18.8%16.8–21.2
Frequent physical distress among adults17.7%15.8–19.8
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults19.2%17.3–21.4
Any disability among adults42.9%38.5–47.6
Hearing disability among adults10.3%9.3–11.6
Independent living disability among adults12.9%11.7–14.3
Mobility disability among adults22.4%20.1–25.0
Self-care disability among adults6.4%5.9–7.0
Vision disability among adults8.2%7.6–8.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults26.4%22.6–30.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults25.0%22.0–28.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults20.8%18.4–23.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults16.5%14.3–18.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults12.2%10.9–13.7
Loneliness among adults35.6%30.2–41.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults12.1%10.6–13.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)AL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate19.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36415.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623
Uninsured 18–6413.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28613.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625
No HS diploma (25+)12.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50513.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626
Bachelor's or higher (25+)17.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50516.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626
Unemployment rate (16+)9.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622
Households without a vehicle4.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622
Broadband subscription79.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32284.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)23.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622
Homeownership rate77.4%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622
Foreign-born population0.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628
Single-parent households47.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08750.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617
Population 65+20.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628
Median age38.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621
Median household income$51,417$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587
Median home value$142,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568
Median gross rent$730$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$856 ($625–$1,266) n=503
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)AL median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled.
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