ZIP code
22849
in Shenandoah, VirginiaPopulation 5,170
43.62/ 100
Ranked #23,781 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #701 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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
38.5%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & 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
2.7 pCi/L
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Shenandoah, Virginia (ZIP 22849) ranks in the bottom 26% nationally (23,781st) and the bottom 20% of Virginia (701st).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: park land lands in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 8.0% nationally. Modeled tree cover sits in the top 12.9% nationally. Against that, fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle is in the top 13.0% nationally, modeled radon stands in the top 15% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol settles in the top 13.1% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lies in the top 17% nationally. Physicians resides at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Unemployment lands in the top 19% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 22802, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
22802
Virginiashares a border
Score 49.23
Closest healthier
22815
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.96
Similar health profile
37687
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 36.62
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 | 33.3% | 29.7–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 35.7–44.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.4% | 22.7–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.0–47.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.0% | 28.0–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.9% | 12.2–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 8.7–12.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 75.9–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.6–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.2–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.2–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.4% | 57.6–64.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.1% | 64.2–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 11.7–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.3% | 16.5–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.0% | 26.0–36.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 30.0–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 21.0–27.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.1% | 34.1–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.4–21.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 18.4–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 12.8–18.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 11.6–17.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.6–13.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.8% | 29.0–41.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 7.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 48.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 38.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $67,261 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $211,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,033 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 77.9, 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