ZIP code
36861
in Jacksons' Gap, AlabamaPopulation 2,853
50.49/ 100
Ranked #15,567 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #109 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 18%)
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.
High cholesterol
46.6%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
131.8 days/year
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
46.4%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
14.8 mi
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
9.6%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
7.4%
in the bottom 33% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS33rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Jacksons' Gap, Alabama (ZIP 36861) lands in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,567th) and the top 18% of Alabama (109th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 11.1% nationally, and tree cover is in the top 13.2% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled high cholesterol lies in the top 1.9% nationally, and humid heat stands in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center registers in the top 12.5% nationally. Floodplain exposure resides in the top 17% nationally, and modeled pfas settles in the top 17% nationally.
Put simply, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. On the overall standing, ZIP 36024, about 6.8 miles away, ranks healthier.
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 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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 78.3; chronic-disease standing 24.5 — 54 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,191 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
35010
Alabamashares a border
Score 41.61
Closest healthier
36024
Alabamaabout 6.8 mi away
Score 50.82
Similar health profile
23138
Virginia97% similar profile
Score 52.45
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 | 36.9% | 33.0–40.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.4% | 41.7–51.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.2–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 46.6% | 41.9–51.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 28.5–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.6% | 7.6–11.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.0–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.7–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 79.2–85.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.4–90.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 65.8–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.2% | 60.3–67.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 70.2–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.2–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 11.6–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.9% | 20.6–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 31.1–44.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.0–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.7% | 31.0–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.4–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 18.9–25.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.2–14.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.6–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 27.9–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (54.7–92.5%) n=622 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.3% (0.0–4.2%) n=622 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 61.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 30.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 53.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $65,577 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $273,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $717 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.92 | 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 1.92 years of 80.9, 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