ZIP code
22041
in Falls Church, VirginiaPopulation 29,183
56.83/ 100
Ranked #7,438 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #219 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #230 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Loud transportation noise
5.0%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
6.3%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.7%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
577 units
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
13.6%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
42%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.5%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
86.5%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 22041, one of several in Falls Church, Virginia comes out in the top 23% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,438th) and the top 25% of Virginia (219th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 3.7% nationally, modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 5.1% nationally, and walkability stands in the top 8.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 1.4% nationally, slow internet speeds is in the top 2.0% nationally, and crowded housing resides in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 4.5% nationally, and transportation noise lies in the top 5.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 8.0% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 10.0% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 22003, just across the boundary.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
“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
3 of our published findings list 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $92,636 predicts 79.8 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,188 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 17.1; chronic-disease standing 82.3 — 65 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,942 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
22003
Virginiashares a border
Score 63.56
Closest healthier
22044
Virginiashares a border
Score 61.42
Similar health profile
91801
California98% similar profile
Score 61.54
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 | 22.4% | 20.1–24.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 29.1–35.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 34.2–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.1% | 24.9–33.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.3% | 7.7–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.4% | 14.2–18.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 71.8–77.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.9% | 72.7–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.7–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.3% | 58.5–66.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 60.1–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 73.4–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.2–15.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 24.1–30.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 34.6–42.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.3% | 19.0–23.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 27.3–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.5–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 31.4–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 48.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 42.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $92,636 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $452,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,950 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,144 ($742–$2,191) n=615 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 yr ± 0.73 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.6 yr (74.5–81.4) n=826 |
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 0.73 years of 81.4, 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