ZIP code
22853
in Timberville, VirginiaPopulation 5,214
47.19/ 100
Ranked #19,934 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #576 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #16 of 19 Harrisonburg, VA ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.98%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
8.9%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.8 pCi/L
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
51.1%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Timberville, Virginia (ZIP 22853) lands in the bottom 38% nationally (19,934th) and the bottom 34% of Virginia (576th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and grocery rests in the top 6.3% nationally. On the other hand, unemployment is in the top 12.3% nationally, and modeled radon stands in the top 13.9% nationally. Modeled pfas settles in the top 12.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room resides in the top 19% nationally, and distance to a community health center lands in the top 19% nationally. Physicians registers at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Childcare sits at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of 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. 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 22815, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
22815
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.96
Closest healthier
22844
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.53
Similar health profile
96105
California96% similar profile
Score 41.90
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 | 31.3% | 28.0–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.3–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 21.3–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.0% | 36.6–45.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.7% | 27.8–41.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.1% | 13.1–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 9.4–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.7–81.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 74.8–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.8–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 60.7–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 62.4–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 66.9–80.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 11.8–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.5–33.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.4% | 27.9–39.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.3% | 19.4–25.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 32.9–42.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.2–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.3–14.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 30.0–40.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 54.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 19.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 43.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $67,083 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $245,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $980 | $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 ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 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