ZIP code
36542
in Gulf Shores, AlabamaPopulation 18,906
56.97/ 100
Ranked #7,304 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #47 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 7.6%)
Ranked #6 of 21 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ZIPs (top 29%)
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.
Recreation access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.8%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
16%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
44.7%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
327 units
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.7%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS13thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.9%
in the bottom 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Gulf Shores, Alabama (ZIP 36542) stands in the top 23% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,304th) and the top 7.6% of Alabama (47th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: recreation lands in the top 2.0% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity settles in the bottom 13.3% nationally. By contrast, modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 2.5% nationally, disaster risk lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and transportation noise settles in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 5.0% nationally, and humid heat lands in the top 11.1% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. ZIP 36561, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
“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 78.6 ± 1.2 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.1 years — 2.5 years above them.
Ranked #1,130 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.
Nearby
36511
Alabamashares a border
Score 49.78
Closest healthier
36561
Alabamashares a border
Score 60.68
Similar health profile
20765
Maryland98% similar profile
Score 61.05
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 | 34.9% | 31.5–38.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.5% | 40.6–48.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 19.2–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.7% | 40.7–48.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.7% | 28.4–39.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.3% | 7.4–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.8–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 78.2–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 78.9–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.3–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.8% | 69.7–77.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.0% | 62.5–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 70.2–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.8–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 9.8–13.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.2% | 19.6–27.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.7% | 28.9–38.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 28.6–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.2% | 16.4–22.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.8–34.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 61.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 25.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 50.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $79,639 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $383,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,502 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 78.6, 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