ZIP code
36874
in Salem, AlabamaPopulation 9,096
50.90/ 100
Ranked #14,993 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #101 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #4 of 15 Auburn-Opelika, AL ZIPs (top 27%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.92%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
61.8 mi
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Salem, Alabama (ZIP 36874) lands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,993rd) and the top 16% of Alabama (101st).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled tree cover is in the top 14.9% nationally, and homeownership settles in the top 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Grocery registers in the top 18% nationally, and unemployment rests in the bottom 19% nationally. Set against that, modeled humid heat stands in the top 13.5% nationally. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Fatal road crashes lands in the top 19% nationally.
A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 31808, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 Auburn-Opelika, 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 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.3 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $66,986 predicts 78.5 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #3,030 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
31808
Georgiashares a border
Score 62.16
Closest healthier
31811
Georgiashares a border
Score 57.70
Similar health profile
28395
North Carolina93% similar profile
Score 52.18
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 | 30.2% | 27.2–33.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 38.9–46.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.4–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 37.0–44.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 34.3–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 11.0–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.6–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.6–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.2–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.7% | 84.9–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 66.0–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.1% | 57.5–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 70.6–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 23.1–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 31.4–42.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 19.1–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 30.8–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.6–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.7–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.7% | 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 | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 70.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 49.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $66,986 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | $194,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,074 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 76.3, 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