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ZipVitals

ZIP code

36527

in Spanish Fort, AlabamaPopulation 21,765

59.07/ 100

Ranked #5,544 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)

Ranked #32 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 5.2%)

Ranked #4 of 21 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ZIPs (top 19%)

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.

Humid extreme heat

145.6 days/year

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
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 ›

Energy-cost burden

1.6%

in the bottom 5.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US6th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.

A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.

Full methodology ›

Grocery access

0.17 per 1,000 residents

in the top 9.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST88th
US90th
Definition & 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 ›

Median household income

$120,189

in the top 9.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 13.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US87th
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 ›

Radon

0.9 pCi/L

in the bottom 12.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US12th
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

4.5%

in the bottom 16% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST8th
US16th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

2.9%

in the bottom 15.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US15th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Self-care disability

2.9%

in the bottom 14.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US14th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

15.7%

in the bottom 17% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US17th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, Spanish Fort, Alabama (ZIP 36527) lands in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,544th) and the top 5.2% of Alabama (32nd).

continue reading

A number of measures place this area on solid footing: modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and grocery lies in the top 9.9% nationally. Household income lands in the top 9.6% nationally, and pharmacy sits in the top 11.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled radon settles in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and poverty resides in the bottom 16% nationally. By contrast, modeled humid heat registers in the top 5.9% nationally, floodplain exposure rests in the top 12.1% nationally, and modeled disaster risk stands in the top 13.0% nationally.

Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 36526, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.

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 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 74%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 92%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 65%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 73%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 69%

8%

Disability

healthier than 79%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 60%

5%

Holding it back

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 15%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 93%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 98%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 84%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 94%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Disability

healthier than 94%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 65%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 52%

14%

Holding it back

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 12%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

in the top 0.00%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 89%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 63%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 68%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 68%

8%

Disability

healthier than 89%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 79%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 21%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 16%

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.

  • Above its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 79.7 ± 1.7 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.4 years — 4.3 years above them.

    Ranked #264 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

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 adults28.4%25.6–31.5
High blood pressure among adults38.4%34.8–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.0%8.2–9.9
Current asthma among adults9.1%8.0–10.3
Coronary heart disease among adults5.7%5.2–6.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.7%5.0–6.4
Depression among adults22.7%19.6–26.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.6%9.3–12.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.5%35.7–43.5
Obesity among adults33.2%28.0–38.7
Stroke among adults2.9%2.7–3.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.1%7.3–11.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.9%5.9–8.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.9%72.9–78.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.3%76.0–82.4
Cholesterol screening among adults87.9%86.2–89.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.5%65.2–73.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults67.7%64.3–71.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.8%69.8–82.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.5%13.8–19.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults11.5%9.7–13.3
No leisure-time physical activity among adults21.2%18.1–24.6
Short sleep duration among adults34.7%29.8–39.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.7%13.7–17.8
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%13.2–16.9
Frequent physical distress among adults11.4%10.1–12.8
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.0%11.4–14.5
Any disability among adults29.3%25.7–32.9
Hearing disability among adults7.2%6.4–8.0
Independent living disability among adults6.8%6.0–7.6
Mobility disability among adults11.9%10.4–13.5
Self-care disability among adults2.9%2.6–3.2
Vision disability among adults3.7%3.4–4.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.5%17.5–23.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.8%9.1–12.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.4%5.4–7.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.7%7.3–10.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.2–6.8
Loneliness among adults31.3%27.2–35.7
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.6%4.8–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)AL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate4.5%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36415.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623
Uninsured 18–642.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28613.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625
No HS diploma (25+)2.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50513.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626
Bachelor's or higher (25+)49.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50516.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626
Unemployment rate (16+)4.2%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622
Households without a vehicle5.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622
Broadband subscription94.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32284.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)21.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622
Homeownership rate76.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622
Foreign-born population7.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628
Single-parent households43.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08750.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617
Population 65+14.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628
Median age36.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621
Median household income$120,189$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587
Median home value$389,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568
Median gross rent$1,432$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 at birth79.7 yr ± 0.8578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30874.7 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 0.85 years of 79.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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