ZIP code
36521
in Chunchula, AlabamaPopulation 5,536
44.33/ 100
Ranked #23,085 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #266 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #16 of 35 Mobile, AL ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
63.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
149.8 days/year
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
72.8%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
95.1%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.7 mi
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Chunchula, Alabama (ZIP 36521) lands in the bottom 28% nationally (23,085th) and the top 43% of Alabama (266th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: homeownership is in the top 8.5% nationally, modeled radon sits in the bottom 13.9% nationally, and modeled tree cover lands in the top 15% nationally. On the other side, fatal road crashes lies in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled humid heat stands in the top 4.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 8.0% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room settles in the top 16% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol is in the top 12.6% nationally.
Put simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. On the overall standing, ZIP 36505, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Mobile, AL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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
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 73.5 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $76,688 predicts 79.0 years — 5.5 years below.
Ranked #5,662 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
36505
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.17
Closest healthier
36525
Alabamashares a border
Score 46.41
Similar health profile
42083
Kentucky99% similar profile
Score 36.59
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 | 31.4% | 28.6–34.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.3% | 38.9–45.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.6–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.6% | 39.2–46.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 32.9–42.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.6% | 13.8–19.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.4–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 76.8–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.8–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.0–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.3% | 61.2–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.2% | 49.7–57.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 68.5–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.7–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.3–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.5% | 26.5–34.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 34.3–43.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.4% | 20.6–26.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.7–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.2% | 33.3–41.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.0% | 22.8–29.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 15.9–21.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.0–15.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 29.7–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.1% | 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 | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 40.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $76,688 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $183,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,009 | $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 | 73.5 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 73.5, 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