ZIP code
36609
in Mobile, AlabamaPopulation 23,820
51.59/ 100
Ranked #14,006 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #87 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 14.1%)
Ranked #7 of 35 Mobile, AL ZIPs (top 20%)
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.
Walkability
230 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
482 units
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Humid extreme heat
143.4 days/year
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.54 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Homeownership rate
46%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35 per million
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.85%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS11thDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 36609, one of several in Mobile, Alabama, overall, ranks in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,006th) and the top 14.1% of Alabama (87th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: walkability settles in the top 1.6% nationally, dental providers is in the top 2.7% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 4.7% nationally. Mental-health providers lands in the top 5.8% nationally, outpatient lies in the top 6.8% nationally, and physicians stands in the top 11.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled humid heat registers in the top 6.4% nationally, and homeownership resides in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 9.1% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. ZIP 36608, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 78.5 ± 1.7 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.3 years — 3.2 years above them.
Ranked #689 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
36606
Alabamashares a border
Score 43.15
Closest healthier
36608
Alabamashares a border
Score 53.52
Similar health profile
52001
Iowa92% similar profile
Score 53.03
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 | 25.8% | 23.3–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.5% | 36.2–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 19.0–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.3–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 32.9–42.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.5% | 12.1–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.4–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.1% | 74.5–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.3–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.2–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 62.6–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.4% | 51.0–58.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 73.2–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 11.8–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.4% | 24.9–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.3% | 37.0–45.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 18.6–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 29.8–36.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.6% | 24.4–31.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 13.7–18.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 31.5–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 41.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 35.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $49,830 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $205,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 78.5, 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