ZIP code
36538
in Frankville, AlabamaPopulation 290
45.65/ 100
Ranked #21,715 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #221 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.84%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
44.1%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
5.7%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Homeownership rate
30.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
22.5%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.01%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
43.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
146.3 days/year
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
48.2%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
34.6%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Overall, Frankville, Alabama (ZIP 36538) lands in the bottom 32% nationally (21,715th) and the top 36% of Alabama (221st).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and households without a vehicle registers in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep rests in the top 6.1% nationally, and humid heat stands in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 5.7% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 8.1% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 0.5% nationally, pfas is in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and transportation noise settles in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Unemployment resides at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.
A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 36518, about 3.3 miles away, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.9%
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.
Nearby
36524
Alabamashares a border
Score 36.17
Closest healthier
36518
Alabamaabout 3.3 mi away
Score 50.75
Similar health profile
21626
Maryland98% similar profile
Score 45.21
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 | 34.3% | 30.6–38.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.2% | 43.8–52.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 6.9–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.5–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 37.8–47.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 32.4–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 12.6–19.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 6.7–10.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 79.0–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 79.3–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.2–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.6% | 59.1–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.5% | 52.4–60.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 70.7–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.2% | 9.9–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.0–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 25.0–35.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.2% | 35.7–51.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.3% | 20.6–28.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–17.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.6% | 33.4–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 16.6–22.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.2% | 23.1–31.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 15.8–23.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 10.6–16.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.7–16.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.5% | 31.1–42.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.8–10.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 49.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 22.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 44.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 30.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 0.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 29.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $37,181 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 74.7, 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