ZIP code
36915
in Needham, AlabamaPopulation 779
36.50/ 100
Ranked #28,759 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.4%)
Ranked #501 of 619 Alabama ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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
0.84%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
4.8%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Poverty rate
39.5%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
49.7%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
21.9 mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.6%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
23%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
12.1%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
143.1 days/year
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
5.6%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
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
- People living in poverty
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
- Chronic conditions
Barriers to reaching care
- Distance to the nearest emergency room
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
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
On the composite measure, Needham, Alabama (ZIP 36915) stands in the bottom 10.4% nationally (28,759th) and the bottom 19% of Alabama (501st).
On the ground here, a handful of readings tell most of the story: poverty settles in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 3.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol settles in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability rests in the top 6.8% nationally, unemployment lands in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the top 6.9% nationally. More positively, modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and pfas settles in the bottom 1.0% nationally.
For clarity, 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. ZIP 36904, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby. Beyond the headline readings, 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 97%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.2%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
36904
Alabamashares a border
Score 38.62
Closest healthier
36908
Alabamashares a border
Score 37.52
Similar health profile
35544
Alabama100% similar profile
Score 38.05
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 | 37.9% | 33.9–41.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 49.7% | 45.1–54.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.9% | 22.0–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–20.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.6% | 40.8–50.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.5% | 33.9–51.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.4% | 18.5–26.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 8.7–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 78.6–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 77.8–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 82.9–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.4–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.5% | 42.3–50.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 65.5–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 10.1–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.4% | 17.1–23.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.4% | 30.1–40.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 32.8–46.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.0% | 26.0–34.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 16.6–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.2% | 16.7–21.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.6% | 39.3–49.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.0% | 19.9–26.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.2% | 22.1–30.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.1% | 19.3–27.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–12.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 30.5–41.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 39.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.4% (5.1–31.1%) n=623 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 13.7% (5.2–25.2%) n=625 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 13.2% (3.6–23.0%) n=626 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 16.9% (6.9–38.8%) n=626 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–11.0%) n=622 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.0% (0.0–12.1%) n=622 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.9% (68.8–94.9%) n=622 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (10.1–35.0%) n=622 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.6% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–6.2%) n=628 |
| Single-parent households | 47.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (35.0–68.6%) n=617 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.9–29.2%) n=628 |
| Median age | 42.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.3 yr (33.4–52.9) n=621 |
| Median household income | $37,105 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,896 ($37,738–$88,230) n=587 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $160,950 ($87,300–$292,680) n=568 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 75.0 yr ± 1.70 | 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 1.70 years of 75.0, 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