ZIP code
36442
in Florala, AlabamaPopulation 3,560
40.24/ 100
Ranked #26,595 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #393 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Grocery access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
45.8%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST33rdUS5thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
48.5%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
146.9 days/year
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
11.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
22.4%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.5%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
17.8%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.2%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
Florala, Alabama (ZIP 36442), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 17% nationally (26,595th) and the bottom 37% of Alabama (393rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: grocery stands in the top 3.8% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 4.8% nationally. On the other hand, modeled high cholesterol sits in the top 3.0% nationally, high blood pressure stands in the top 5.2% nationally, and humid heat resides in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled hearing disability sits in the top 6.0% nationally, and mobility disability stands in the top 8.4% nationally. Modeled stroke resides in the top 7.8% nationally, and diabetes sits in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease stands in the top 8.3% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, 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. The closest healthier 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.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
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 93.7 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 7.8 (bottom 10%) — 86 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #243 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
32531
Floridashares a border
Score 52.49
Closest healthier
32567
Floridashares a border
Score 49.96
Similar health profile
28337
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 40.36
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 | 36.5% | 33.1–40.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.5% | 44.4–52.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 21.5–28.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.8% | 41.5–50.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 31.8–46.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.7% | 17.0–24.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 9.3–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 78.8–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 77.9–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.6–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 61.4–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.0% | 45.8–54.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 68.5–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.4% | 10.2–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.6–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.4% | 29.7–39.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 29.6–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.6% | 25.4–32.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.6–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 43.3% | 38.9–48.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.1–13.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.4% | 19.8–25.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.3–29.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 17.8–23.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–19.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.4% | 29.2–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 56.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 42.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $62,847 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $117,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $747 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 74.5, 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