ZIP code
36740
in Forkland, AlabamaPopulation 936
28.35/ 100
Ranked #31,051 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 3.2%)
Ranked #594 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 4.1%)
Ranked #28 of 31 Tuscaloosa, AL ZIPs (bottom 9.7%)
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
26.7%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
7.8%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
9.5%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
59.4%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
49.6%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
29.7%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
32.8%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Obesity
52.4%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.6%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
36.1%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
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 →
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its severe level: severe means at least four of the six health-need readings and at least four of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
- Chronic conditions
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Households with no vehicle
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Judged by its overall standing, Forkland, Alabama (ZIP 36740) sits in the bottom 3.2% nationally (31,051st) and the bottom 4.1% of Alabama (594th).
A rural profile defined by a handful of clear readings: modeled diabetes is in the top 0.3% nationally, stroke lies in the top 0.4% nationally, and self-care disability registers in the top 1.0% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the top 0.2% nationally, short sleep lies in the top 0.4% nationally, and mobility disability registers in the top 0.6% nationally. Modeled tooth loss is in the top 1.9% nationally, and obesity lies in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled vision disability registers in the top 2.6% nationally, and fair or poor health is in the top 2.0% nationally.
A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 35470, just across the boundary. Across other measures, the ZIP also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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 Tuscaloosa, AL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 1%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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
35443
Alabamashares a border
Score 25.56
Closest healthier
35470
Alabamashares a border
Score 41.50
Similar health profile
29468
South Carolina100% similar profile
Score 29.29
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 | 39.6% | 35.5–43.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 59.4% | 54.9–63.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 17.6–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 26.7% | 23.5–29.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.8% | 41.0–50.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 52.4% | 43.3–61.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 32.8% | 27.6–38.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.5% | 10.1–15.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.6% | 82.4–86.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 85.3% | 82.4–87.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.7–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 60.0–70.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 41.9% | 37.9–46.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 71.2–84.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 9.1% | 7.3–11.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.6% | 18.3–24.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 42.1% | 35.9–48.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 49.6% | 42.1–56.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 36.1% | 31.8–40.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.3–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.4% | 16.9–21.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–22.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 47.8% | 42.2–53.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 29.7% | 26.2–33.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–13.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.1% | 26.7–35.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 37.1% | 32.8–41.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 34.0% | 29.9–38.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.9% | 21.7–28.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.3% | 31.9–43.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–21.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 70.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 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 | 32.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 24.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 44.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $44,737 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $100,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $525 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 1.91 | 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 1.91 years of 75.4, 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