ZIP code
23509
in Norfolk, VirginiaPopulation 13,105
49.29/ 100
Ranked #17,255 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #498 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #99 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
24.9%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
35.1%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
37.9%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
7.1%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 23509, one of several in Norfolk, Virginia ranks in the bottom 46% nationally (17,255th) and the bottom 43% of Virginia (498th).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 1.6% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum, and floodplain exposure sits in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled loneliness rests in the top 9.1% nationally. On the stronger side, walkability is in the top 4.4% nationally, lead in tap water stands at the national minimum, and modeled mammography settles in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled radon lies in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 23502, 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 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
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 ›
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 72.9 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $72,816 predicts 78.8 years — 5.9 years below.
Ranked #5,728 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 ± 1.6 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.2 years — 3.3 years below them.
Ranked #2,568 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
23502
Virginiashares a border
Score 49.93
Closest healthier
23505
Virginiashares a border
Score 51.33
Similar health profile
70121
Louisiana95% similar profile
Score 47.85
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 | 27.2% | 24.2–30.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 37.1–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.1–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.8–41.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.0% | 35.7–47.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.9% | 11.5–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.0–12.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.9–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.4–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.2–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.5% | 66.4–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.6% | 59.3–65.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.1% | 76.6–86.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.7–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.8% | 23.9–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 36.0–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.2% | 19.6–24.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 30.8–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.7–28.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 18.0–23.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 16.8–21.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.9% | 33.3–42.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 17.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 38.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $72,816 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $258,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,326 | $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 | 72.9 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 72.9, 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