ZIP code
23701
in Portsmouth, VirginiaPopulation 24,298
48.82/ 100
Ranked #17,897 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #518 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #102 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
443 units
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.5%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
43%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.3 mi
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & 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
40.3%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
37.4%
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
0.18%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.081 per 1,000 residents
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 23701, one of several in Portsmouth, Virginia comes out in the bottom 44% nationally (17,897th) and the bottom 41% of Virginia (518th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 5.2% nationally, walkability lands in the top 8.5% nationally, and grocery is in the top 10.2% nationally. Lead in tap water resides in the bottom 10.5% nationally, and modeled radon rests in the bottom 8.0% nationally. Set against that, outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 5.8% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the top 6.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 8.1% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the top 9.7% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the top 10.9% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 23321, 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 67%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
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
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 72.7 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $62,349 predicts 78.2 years — 5.5 years below.
Ranked #5,665 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 72.7 ± 2.0 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.1 years — 3.4 years below them.
Ranked #2,672 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
23321
Virginiashares a border
Score 59.47
Closest healthier
23323
Virginiashares a border
Score 55.26
Similar health profile
21851
Maryland92% similar profile
Score 49.13
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 | 29.2% | 25.9–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.9% | 37.9–46.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.4% | 18.2–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 34.6–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 32.1–46.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.1% | 13.1–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 8.2–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.0–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 77.3–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.8–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.9% | 64.1–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.5% | 55.7–62.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 70.2–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 10.9–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.8–17.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.4% | 24.2–32.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.0% | 37.0–48.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.4% | 19.6–25.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.4% | 31.0–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.2% | 21.7–28.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 16.6–21.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.4% | 32.3–42.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 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) | 40.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 45.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 19.3% | 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 | $62,349 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $235,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,305 | $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 | 72.7 yr ± 1.02 | 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 1.02 years of 72.7, 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