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ZipVitals

ZIP code

23222

in Richmond, VirginiaPopulation 26,322

46.57/ 100

Ranked #20,682 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)

Ranked #602 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 31%)

Ranked #71 of 93 Richmond, VA ZIPs (bottom 24%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 0.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Subsidized affordable housing

1,084 units

in the top 1.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

47 per million

in the top 1.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Loneliness

39.6%

in the top 4.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

14.1%

in the top 8.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

19.9%

in the top 9.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

110 intersections/sq mi

in the top 9.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US91st
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Hearing disability

5.3%

in the bottom 9.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST13th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

13.0%

in the top 10.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

41.5%

in the top 10.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US89th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

The read

In overall standing, ZIP 23222, one of several in Richmond, Virginia comes out in the bottom 36% nationally (20,682nd) and the bottom 31% of Virginia (602nd).

continue reading

The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 0.5% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 1.3% nationally, and loneliness is in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff resides in the top 8.6% nationally, housing insecurity rests in the top 9.1% nationally, and transportation lies in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled short sleep sits in the top 10.9% nationally. More positively, subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 1.2% nationally, and walkability registers in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled hearing disability stands in the bottom 9.0% nationally.

Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 23111, 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 Richmond, VA metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 66%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 89%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 45%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 36%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 25%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 6%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 38%

11%

Disability

healthier than 29%

7%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 95%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 54%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 52%

8%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 22%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 23%

11%

Disability

healthier than 34%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 37%

5%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 73%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 93%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 30%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 15%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 15%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 24%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 15%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 33%

8%

Disability

healthier than 23%

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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

3 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.

  • Below what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 72.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $61,345 predicts 78.1 years — 5.3 years below.

    Ranked #5,598 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 72.9 ± 1.2 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.4 years — 5.5 years below them.

    Ranked #3,479 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

  • Highest-risk tenth

    Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale

    Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 47.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 72.9 ± 1.2 years.

    Ranked #252 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults27.4%25.3–29.8
High blood pressure among adults43.2%40.4–46.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults5.4%5.0–5.9
Current asthma among adults12.5%11.4–13.8
Coronary heart disease among adults6.5%5.9–7.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.2%6.5–7.9
Depression among adults20.9%18.6–23.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults16.7%15.3–18.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.3%32.4–38.4
Obesity among adults41.8%37.0–47.0
Stroke among adults4.7%4.4–5.0
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.2%16.9–21.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.9%8.7–11.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.9%76.0–79.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults81.1%78.7–83.5
Cholesterol screening among adults86.2%84.8–87.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.6%66.4–72.9
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.3%56.6–62.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.8%74.3–82.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.9%11.0–15.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.7%14.1–17.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults29.2%26.1–32.6
Short sleep duration among adults41.5%37.8–45.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.7%21.6–25.9
Frequent mental distress among adults18.7%17.2–20.5
Frequent physical distress among adults14.2%13.0–15.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults17.4%15.9–19.0
Any disability among adults36.8%33.7–40.1
Hearing disability among adults5.3%4.8–5.9
Independent living disability among adults10.8%9.9–11.8
Mobility disability among adults18.2%16.7–19.9
Self-care disability among adults5.5%5.1–6.0
Vision disability among adults7.3%6.8–7.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults27.5%24.6–30.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults24.0%21.5–26.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults23.4%21.0–25.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults19.9%17.8–22.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults13.0%11.7–14.2
Loneliness among adults39.6%35.7–43.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults14.1%12.6–15.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)VA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate18.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863
Uninsured 18–646.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861
No HS diploma (25+)8.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872
Bachelor's or higher (25+)35.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872
Unemployment rate (16+)5.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860
Households without a vehicle11.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862
Broadband subscription85.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)37.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862
Homeownership rate57.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862
Crowded housing (>1 per room)3.1%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862
Foreign-born population4.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5532.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874
Single-parent households31.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08754.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855
Population 65+15.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874
Median age34.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864
Median household income$61,345$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804
Median home value$274,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789
Median gross rent$1,246$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,144 ($742–$2,191) n=615
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)VA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth72.9 yr ± 0.6378.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30877.6 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 0.63 years of 72.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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