ZIP code
23704
in Portsmouth, VirginiaPopulation 19,207
38.37/ 100
Ranked #27,800 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 13.4%)
Ranked #803 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 8.1%)
Ranked #120 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 2.5%)
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
1,215 units
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
46.1%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
25.8%
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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
200 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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
49%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
23.5%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
18%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
19.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
ZIP 23704, one of several in Portsmouth, Virginia ranks in the bottom 13.4% nationally (27,800th) and the bottom 8.1% of Virginia (803rd).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled short sleep stands in the top 2.0% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 1.6% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site resides at the national minimum, and housing-cost burden stands in the top 3.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits in the top 3.5% nationally, modeled self-care disability resides in the top 5.4% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff stands in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled diabetes sits in the top 5.2% nationally. More positively, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 1.0% nationally, and walkability stands in the top 2.6% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 23323, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 98%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.9%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
23323
Virginiashares a border
Score 55.26
Closest healthier
23324
Virginiashares a border
Score 45.30
Similar health profile
71602
Arkansas99% similar profile
Score 39.67
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 | 29.3% | 26.2–32.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.5% | 40.5–48.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.4% | 19.2–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 33.9–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.0% | 37.0–51.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.8–24.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.3% | 10.6–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 76.4–81.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.0–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.6% | 82.7–86.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.1–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.7% | 48.9–56.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 69.2–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 10.0–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 16.6–21.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.6% | 29.9–39.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 46.1% | 40.0–51.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.9% | 25.8–32.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.4% | 18.2–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.7% | 17.6–21.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.4% | 36.0–44.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.8–14.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 18.9–23.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.2% | 23.2–31.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 30.6% | 27.1–33.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 31.3% | 28.0–34.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.5% | 20.6–26.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.4% | 34.0–44.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.6% | 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+) | 14.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 23.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 49.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 40.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 37.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 15.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 35.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $49,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $230,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,310 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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