ZIP code
36571
in Saraland, AlabamaPopulation 17,143
49.34/ 100
Ranked #17,170 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #130 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #10 of 35 Mobile, 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.
Humid extreme heat
145.4 days/year
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
6.8 ppb
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US94thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.6%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Grocery access
0.18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.2%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & 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 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Saraland, Alabama (ZIP 36571) lands in the bottom 46% nationally (17,170th) and the top 21% of Alabama (130th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: grocery lands in the top 8.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pharmacy is in the top 14.2% nationally, and modeled radon settles in the bottom 13.6% nationally. On the other side, modeled humid heat resides in the top 5.9% nationally, lead in tap water registers in the top 6.4% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 6.6% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands in the bottom 15% nationally, PFOA in drinking water lies in the top 15% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 16% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 36572, 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 Mobile, AL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
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 75.7 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $62,047 predicts 78.2 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,484 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
36521
Alabamashares a border
Score 44.33
Closest healthier
36572
Alabamashares a border
Score 52.35
Similar health profile
15225
Pennsylvania94% similar profile
Score 50.79
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 | 28.3% | 25.7–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 36.0–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.8–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.7–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 31.4–40.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.7% | 10.4–15.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.9% | 7.6–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.6–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 75.0–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.4–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 62.5–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.0% | 55.6–62.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 71.3–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.1–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 24.0–30.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 33.3–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 17.9–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.8% | 30.4–37.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.4% | 22.2–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 29.7–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 49.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 21.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 43.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $62,047 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $217,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,060 | $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 | 75.7 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 75.7, 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