ZIP code
23513
in Norfolk, VirginiaPopulation 28,628
47.96/ 100
Ranked #18,971 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #549 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranked #107 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 13.1%)
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.
Walkability
190 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
39.8%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
43.4%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
96.7%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.2%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
13.4%
in the top 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
19.1%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
12.9%
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 23513, one of several in Norfolk, Virginia lands in the bottom 41% nationally (18,971st) and the bottom 37% of Virginia (549th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: walkability is in the top 2.8% nationally, and lead in tap water settles at the national minimum. On the other side, modeled loneliness resides in the top 4.5% nationally, and tree cover registers at the national minimum. Modeled short sleep rests in the top 5.7% nationally, PFOS in drinking water stands in the top 5.7% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 8.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 10.1% nationally, housing insecurity sits in the top 10.4% nationally, and transportation is in the top 10.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 23502, 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. 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 74.9 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $68,380 predicts 78.6 years — 3.7 years below.
Ranked #4,838 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, 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
18234
Pennsylvania94% similar profile
Score 46.91
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 | 25.4% | 22.5–28.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.3% | 36.4–43.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.0–24.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 32.1–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.3% | 37.1–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.2% | 14.2–20.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 10.2–13.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 74.1–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.6–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.5–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.6% | 65.4–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 54.0–60.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 74.9–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.4–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.5% | 25.4–33.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.4% | 38.6–48.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.6–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.6–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.1–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.9% | 23.4–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.6–26.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.7% | 19.0–24.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.1% | 16.7–21.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.8% | 34.9–44.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.6% | 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) | 37.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 41.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 35.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $68,380 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $234,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,226 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 0.69 | 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 0.69 years of 74.9, 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