ZIP code
23836
in Chester, VirginiaPopulation 15,298
55.83/ 100
Ranked #8,481 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #243 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #37 of 93 Richmond, VA ZIPs (top 40%)
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 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Floodplain exposure
35.1%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
5.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
52%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
0.3 mi
in the bottom 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
100.2 days/year
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS77thDefinition & 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
On the composite measure, ZIP 23836, one of several in Chester, Virginia stands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,481st) and the top 28% of Virginia (243rd).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: lead in tap water lies at the national minimum, and modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 10.0% nationally. Modeled mammography registers in the top 8.7% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lies in the bottom 13.4% nationally. Modeled energy burden is in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 13.3% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 1.2% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 4.5% nationally, and floodplain exposure registers in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled pfas lies in the top 12.2% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. 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 23831, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 72.0 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,311 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 79.6 ± 1.8 years.
Ranked #504 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
23030
Virginiashares a border
Score 45.23
Closest healthier
23831
Virginiashares a border
Score 56.18
Similar health profile
96073
California96% similar profile
Score 55.45
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 | 26.5% | 23.9–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 32.8–39.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.5% | 18.7–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 35.3–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 31.5–41.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.1% | 6.6–9.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.7–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.0–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.8–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 64.2–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.5% | 66.6–72.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 75.3–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.6–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.6% | 19.5–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.3% | 31.4–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.6% | 24.3–31.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.7–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.4–14.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.1–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.4–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 29.0–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 47.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 13.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 38.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $100,921 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $356,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,674 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.93 | 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 0.93 years of 79.6, 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