ZIP code
36748
in Linden, AlabamaPopulation 2,522
31.02/ 100
Ranked #30,548 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.8%)
Ranked #573 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 7.5%)
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
22.7%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
55.3%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
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 ›Stroke
6.7%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
27.4%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
15.0%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
34.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
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 ›Distance to an emergency room
25.9 mi
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.6%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three 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
- Distance to the nearest emergency room
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Households with no vehicle
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
By its overall health score, Linden, Alabama (ZIP 36748) lands in the bottom 4.8% nationally (30,548th) and the bottom 7.5% of Alabama (573rd).
The measures that define the ground here come first: modeled diabetes rests in the top 1.3% nationally, and high blood pressure is in the top 0.8% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 2.3% nationally, and stroke settles in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lies in the top 1.4% nationally, independent living disability resides in the top 2.6% nationally, and fair or poor health lands in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled vision disability registers in the top 4.1% nationally, and distance to an emergency room sits in the top 2.8% nationally. On the stronger side, modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 2.2% nationally.
Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 36732, just across the boundary. On a broader view, the area 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 92.5 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 1.8 (bottom 10%) — 91 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #101 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
36732
Alabamashares a border
Score 45.05
Closest healthier
36736
Alabamashares a border
Score 32.18
Similar health profile
29146
South Carolina100% similar profile
Score 34.41
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 | 38.6% | 34.9–42.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 55.3% | 51.0–59.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 19.9–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 22.7% | 20.1–25.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 46.3% | 41.8–50.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.3% | 37.2–53.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 26.3% | 22.0–30.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 10.6–14.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.1% | 79.7–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.3% | 80.3–86.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.6–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.2% | 58.8–69.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.3% | 42.3–50.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.2–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.6% | 8.6–13.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.1% | 18.3–23.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 39.6% | 34.3–45.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.4% | 36.3–50.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 34.2% | 30.5–37.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 16.9–21.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.0% | 16.9–21.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.1% | 17.8–22.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 47.4% | 42.4–52.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.5–16.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 27.4% | 24.5–30.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.8% | 24.9–33.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.7% | 29.2–36.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 29.5% | 26.4–32.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 19.1–24.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.7% | 32.3–43.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.9–19.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 18.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 64.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 46.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $42,826 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $93,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $764 | $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 | 75.6 yr ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 years of 75.6, 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