ZIP code
22556
in Stafford, VirginiaPopulation 31,785
57.44/ 100
Ranked #6,855 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #203 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #222 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 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.
Median household income
$137,287
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
61.4%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
291 units
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.1%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.8%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 22556, one of several in Stafford, Virginia, in overall standing, comes out in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,855th) and the top 23% of Virginia (203rd).
A few measures carry most of this area's good news: household income registers in the top 5.6% nationally, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 8.5% nationally, and modeled hearing disability lies in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 7.8% nationally, fatal road crashes is in the bottom 11.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Home broadband subscription registers in the top 13.1% nationally, and modeled stroke is in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Grocery lies in the top 13.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas registers in the top 7.4% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 20119, 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 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.6 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $137,287 predicts 81.3 years — 2.8 years below.
Ranked #3,799 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
20119
Virginiashares a border
Score 59.62
Closest healthier
22406
Virginiashares a border
Score 60.64
Similar health profile
53559
Wisconsin99% similar profile
Score 57.00
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 | 23.9% | 20.7–27.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.5% | 27.5–35.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 19.8–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.1% | 31.6–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 29.5–44.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.4–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.7–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.6% | 71.0–77.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.7% | 72.6–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 84.6–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.1% | 62.4–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 63.8–70.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 70.6–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 12.8–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.9% | 19.8–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 33.0–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.5–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 24.8–33.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.1–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.9–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.0–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.4% | 29.4–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 18.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 43.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 9.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 35.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $137,287 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $486,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,893 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 78.6, 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