ZIP code
23834
in Colonial Heights, VirginiaPopulation 26,628
53.55/ 100
Ranked #11,293 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #317 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #47 of 93 Richmond, VA ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
513 units
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.8 per million
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.45 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Elder-services access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
24.7%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
98.6 days/year
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
Colonial Heights, Virginia (ZIP 23834), by its composite score, sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,293rd) and the top 36% of Virginia (317th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 4.3% nationally, and dental providers stands in the top 4.4% nationally. Physicians registers in the top 7.3% nationally, and outpatient settles in the top 9.6% nationally. Elder services sits in the top 10.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers rests in the top 14.2% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 6.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 13.3% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 23831, 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 Richmond, VA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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 ›
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 77.1 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $84,338 predicts 79.4 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,212 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.8 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.1 ± 1.0 years.
Ranked #1,449 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
23803
Virginiashares a border
Score 42.70
Closest healthier
23831
Virginiashares a border
Score 56.18
Similar health profile
96087
California96% similar profile
Score 52.80
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 | 29.0% | 26.3–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.6% | 34.2–40.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 10.0–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.8–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.2% | 35.7–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 31.2–43.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.6% | 8.1–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.8–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.1–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.7–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 65.8–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.7% | 65.0–70.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 73.5–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 21.5–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.1% | 32.4–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.2–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 27.8–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.5–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 29.5–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 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) | 26.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 42.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 17.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $84,338 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $253,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,256 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 years of 77.1, 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