ZIP code
23605
in Newport News, VirginiaPopulation 13,332
44.27/ 100
Ranked #23,156 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #682 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #114 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 7.4%)
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.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
706 units
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
44.4%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
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 ›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 ›Homeownership rate
40.5%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
44.2%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
44.7%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 23605, one of several in Newport News, Virginia ranks in the bottom 28% nationally (23,156th) and the bottom 22% of Virginia (682nd).
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: PFOS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, and modeled short sleep lands in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled tree cover sits at the national minimum, and PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum. Homeownership settles in the bottom 5.4% nationally, housing-cost burden resides in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled obesity registers in the top 4.9% nationally. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 2.7% nationally, lead in tap water stands at the national minimum, and walkability lies in the top 5.8% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 23601, just across the boundary, ranks 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
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 74.7 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $53,815 predicts 77.6 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,113 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
23601
Virginiashares a border
Score 54.83
Closest healthier
23661
Virginiashares a border
Score 46.30
Similar health profile
63456
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 43.59
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 | 29.4% | 26.7–32.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.3% | 38.9–45.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.4% | 19.6–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 34.2–41.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.7% | 38.7–50.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.1% | 16.1–22.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.6–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.5–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 83.3–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 61.6–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 53.0–59.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.2% | 73.5–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.4% | 10.4–14.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.6% | 28.5–36.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.4% | 39.8–49.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.9% | 23.2–28.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.8–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.7–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 34.0–41.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.0–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.9–8.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.9% | 23.7–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.3% | 22.4–28.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.0% | 21.3–26.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.8–14.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.3% | 34.1–42.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 40.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 35.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 34.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $53,815 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $194,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,222 | $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 | 74.6 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 74.6, 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