ZIP code
22972
in Somerset, VirginiaPopulation 290
51.78/ 100
Ranked #13,727 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #391 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
9.7%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Somerset, Virginia (ZIP 22972) lands in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,727th) and the top 45% of Virginia (391st).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: poverty lands at the national minimum, and homeownership sits at the national maximum. Home broadband subscription is at the national maximum. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 7.6% nationally, housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Set against that, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 11.9% nationally, distance to a community health center lies in the top 11.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol lands in the top 10.6% nationally.
A note on the terms: industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 22738, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
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
22738
Virginiashares a border
Score 54.25
Closest healthier
22923
Virginiashares a border
Score 56.95
Similar health profile
23071
Virginia97% similar profile
Score 51.23
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 | 34.6% | 30.9–38.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.5% | 38.0–46.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.8–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 12.8–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 38.3–47.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.4% | 30.6–46.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.0–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 6.9–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 78.8–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.1% | 78.9–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.6–90.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.5% | 65.6–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.3–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.6–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.4–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 11.5–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 21.6–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 30.2–43.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.7% | 17.4–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.2–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.2–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 30.3–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 14.9–20.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.3% | 16.2–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 9.8–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.5–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.0–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.6–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.5–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 100.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 35.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 52.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $732,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 1.00 | 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 1.00 years of 78.2, 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