ZIP code
23603
in Newport News, VirginiaPopulation 3,504
60.41/ 100
Ranked #4,547 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.2%)
Ranked #141 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #18 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (top 14.7%)
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.
Slow internet speeds
5.2%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Park land
47.6%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.1%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
12.1%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.0%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.4%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0.0002 ppb
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
US10thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
10.0%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 23603, one of several in Newport News, Virginia, overall, ranks in the top 14.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,547th) and the top 16% of Virginia (141st).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: park land stands in the top 2.6% nationally, modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Poverty resides in the bottom 6.9% nationally, modeled mammography settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled stroke is in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Lead in tap water sits in the bottom 9.6% nationally, and modeled mobility disability lands in the bottom 9.1% nationally. On the other side, slow internet speeds lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and unemployment stands in the top 6.3% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. ZIP 23185, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall. This area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
“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
23185
Virginiashares a border
Score 60.71
Closest healthier
23691
Virginiashares a border
Score 64.12
Similar health profile
52314
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 60.52
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 | 21.2% | 18.8–23.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.4% | 27.0–34.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.1–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–11.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.6% | 29.0–36.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.4–43.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.7% | 6.2–9.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.8% | 67.7–73.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 73.7–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.6–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.9% | 66.5–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.1% | 66.0–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.8% | 76.0–86.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 13.6–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.6% | 18.1–25.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 33.3–43.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–17.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.2% | 22.5–30.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 20.3–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.5–15.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.6–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.3–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.0% | 32.2–41.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 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) | 32.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 35.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 10.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 34.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $88,246 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $293,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,444 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 2.49 | 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 2.49 years of 77.9, 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