ZIP code
23454
in Virginia Beach, VirginiaPopulation 58,178
58.43/ 100
Ranked #6,048 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #181 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #26 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
73.2%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
418 units
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS15thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS77thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
2.6%
in the bottom 29% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS29thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 23454, one of several in Virginia Beach, Virginia, overall, ranks in the top 19% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,048th) and the top 21% of Virginia (181st).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 5.6% nationally, physicians lands in the top 6.5% nationally, and dental providers lies in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outpatient rests in the top 14.0% nationally, and modeled tooth loss registers in the bottom 10.6% nationally. Walkability resides in the top 14.5% nationally, and lead in tap water settles in the bottom 14.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas is in the top 3.6% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. ZIP 23451, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.8 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $102,796 predicts 80.2 years — 1.4 years below.
Ranked #1,728 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 78.8 ± 1.2 years. The 41 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.1 years — 2.7 years above them.
Ranked #995 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
23451
Virginiashares a border
Score 61.20
Closest healthier
23456
Virginiashares a border
Score 60.72
Similar health profile
45230
Ohio97% similar profile
Score 60.01
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 | 25.8% | 23.2–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.7–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.6–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 35.8–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 31.0–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.5% | 6.1–9.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.4% | 72.6–78.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.7–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.8–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 66.2–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.1% | 69.3–74.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 73.6–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.6–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.9% | 18.0–23.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 32.6–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 24.9–31.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.3–23.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.8% | 30.7–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.9% | 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 | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 47.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 16.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $102,796 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $416,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,651 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 78.8, 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