ZIP code
36605
in Mobile, AlabamaPopulation 25,104
30.69/ 100
Ranked #30,619 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.6%)
Ranked #577 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 6.8%)
Ranked #32 of 35 Mobile, AL ZIPs (bottom 8.6%)
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.
Diabetes
22.3%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
8.3%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
46.9%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
82.4%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Vision disability
10.4%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
14.4%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Stroke
6.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
18.2%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
51.2%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
24.8%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
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 humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
In overall standing, ZIP 36605, one of several in Mobile, Alabama comes out in the bottom 4.6% nationally (30,619th) and the bottom 6.8% of Alabama (577th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled diabetes sits in the top 1.5% nationally, self-care disability settles in the top 2.3% nationally, and short sleep registers in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled pfas stands in the top 1.4% nationally, vision disability lands in the top 4.1% nationally, and independent living disability is in the top 3.5% nationally. Modeled stroke resides in the top 3.2% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 2.2% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and mobility disability sits in the top 3.8% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 36582, just across the boundary.
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 88%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 1%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 72.2 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $43,538 predicts 76.8 years — 4.6 years below.
Ranked #5,380 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 72.2 ± 1.2 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.6 years — 3.4 years below them.
Ranked #2,656 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
36582
Alabamashares a border
Score 43.07
Closest healthier
36604
Alabamashares a border
Score 52.77
Similar health profile
31701
Georgia98% similar profile
Score 30.61
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 | 32.4% | 29.7–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.2% | 48.0–54.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.4–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 22.3% | 20.2–24.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.3% | 38.1–44.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.4% | 41.7–51.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.2% | 5.8–6.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 25.8% | 22.1–29.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.1% | 11.3–15.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.9–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 79.0–84.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.8–86.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 60.4–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 43.9% | 40.5–47.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 71.1–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.0% | 9.2–13.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.2% | 17.8–22.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 39.4% | 35.7–43.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 46.9% | 42.5–51.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 31.9% | 29.1–34.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.2–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.3–21.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.9% | 39.4–46.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.4% | 13.1–15.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 24.8% | 22.5–27.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–8.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.4% | 28.9–36.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 36.4% | 33.2–39.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 32.5% | 29.7–35.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.4% | 22.9–28.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 16.3–19.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.2% | 33.3–41.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 17.6–21.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.7% | 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 | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 38.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 17.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 37.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $43,538 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $99,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $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 | 72.2 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 72.2, 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