ZIP code
22303
in Alexandria, VirginiaPopulation 16,922
67.96/ 100
Ranked #1,025 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.2%)
Ranked #53 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 6.1%)
Ranked #86 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 28%)
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.
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 ›High blood pressure
26%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.0%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.2%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
2.1%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.1%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.3%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
95.3%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & 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
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 22303, one of several in Alexandria, Virginia sits in the top 3.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,025th) and the top 6.1% of Virginia (53rd).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled high blood pressure resides in the bottom 3.6% nationally, coronary heart disease sits in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and hearing disability stands in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled energy burden resides in the bottom 1.8% nationally, stroke sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and obesity stands in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Modeled mobility disability resides in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and mammography sits in the top 3.4% nationally. Against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 4.5% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 6.3% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 22310, 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 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
“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
2 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 38.0; chronic-disease standing 96.6 (top 10%) — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,277 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 80.7 ± 1.6 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
22304
Virginiashares a border
Score 63.21
Closest healthier
22310
Virginiashares a border
Score 68.96
Similar health profile
22030
Virginia100% similar profile
Score 68.64
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 | 18.3% | 16.4–20.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.0% | 23.4–28.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.6–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.1% | 30.0–36.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.1% | 22.2–30.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.6% | 5.4–8.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 7.0–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.9% | 67.9–73.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.3% | 72.1–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.4–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 64.9–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.5% | 71.9–76.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.3% | 77.5–86.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.9–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.9% | 15.4–20.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 31.5–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.1% | 19.5–25.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.0% | 18.3–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–8.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 29.4–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 62.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 49.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 24.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 49.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 11.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $103,656 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $552,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $2,080 | $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 | 80.7 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 80.7, 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