ZIP code
23847
in Emporia, VirginiaPopulation 12,956
40.13/ 100
Ranked #26,675 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #776 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
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.
Diabetes
20%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.8%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
23.1%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
48.1%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.55 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›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
Judged by its overall standing, Emporia, Virginia (ZIP 23847) sits in the bottom 17% nationally (26,675th) and the bottom 11.2% of Virginia (776th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled binge drinking resides in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers stands in the top 6.3% nationally, and outpatient resides in the top 6.5% nationally. Against that, modeled diabetes sits in the top 3.8% nationally, and stroke stands in the top 4.7% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 4.4% nationally, and mobility disability sits in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 5.9% nationally, and self-care disability resides in the top 7.4% nationally.
Put plainly, loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 23828, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
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 72.0 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $51,168 predicts 77.4 years — 5.4 years below.
Ranked #5,641 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 72.0 ± 1.4 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.2 years — 4.1 years below them.
Ranked #3,081 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
23828
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.98
Closest healthier
23829
Virginiashares a border
Score 44.85
Similar health profile
73084
Oklahoma99% similar profile
Score 41.14
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 | 33.8% | 31.3–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.1% | 45.0–51.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 7.1–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.5–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 8.2–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.6–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 20.0% | 18.2–21.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.0% | 37.9–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.7% | 38.9–50.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.9% | 5.5–6.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.7% | 19.0–24.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 10.4–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 79.9–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 80.6–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 86.0–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 63.0–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.7% | 53.0–58.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 71.2–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.7% | 31.1–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.4% | 37.5–47.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.9% | 26.3–31.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.9–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.9–19.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.7–20.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.9% | 37.5–44.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.4–13.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.1% | 21.0–25.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.2–7.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.6% | 24.6–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.2% | 23.6–28.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 25.3% | 22.7–28.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–21.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.1% | 33.2–41.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.6–15.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 20.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 36.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $51,168 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $139,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $992 | $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 | 72.0 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 72.0, 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