ZIP code
22821
in Dayton, VirginiaPopulation 6,116
52.91/ 100
Ranked #12,207 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #341 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #7 of 19 Harrisonburg, VA ZIPs (top 37%)
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.
Park land
49.6%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.6 pCi/L
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›The read
Dayton, Virginia (ZIP 22821), on the composite measure, lands in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,207th) and the top 39% of Virginia (341st).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: park land registers in the top 2.5% nationally, modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 10.0% nationally, and modeled tree cover resides in the top 14.7% nationally. Childcare lies in the top 21% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 17% nationally, and modeled radon is in the top 18% nationally. Households without a vehicle rests in the top 20% nationally, and slow internet speeds sits in the top 21% nationally. Modeled loneliness registers in the top 23% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 22812, 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 Harrisonburg, VA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
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
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.5 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $84,603 predicts 79.4 years — 3.1 years above.
Ranked #413 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 82.5 ± 2.3 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.3 years — 3.2 years above them.
Ranked #705 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
22801
Virginiashares a border
Score 52.10
Closest healthier
22812
Virginiashares a border
Score 58.48
Similar health profile
28715
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 54.09
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 | 29.3% | 26.1–32.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 31.8–39.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 20.9–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 35.4–44.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.5% | 25.8–39.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.5–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.4–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.5–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.2–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.0–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 61.7–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.8% | 63.1–70.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.4–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 21.8–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.1–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.9% | 17.0–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.1–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.8% | 30.4–39.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.0–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.0–11.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.1% | 30.2–40.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 52.2% | 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 | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $84,603 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $267,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $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 | 82.5 yr ± 1.16 | 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 1.16 years of 82.5, 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