ZIP code
23851
in Franklin, VirginiaPopulation 13,237
45.79/ 100
Ranked #21,557 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #623 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
6.6%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
403 units
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
11.7%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
18.2%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
11.8%
in the top 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
16.5%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Radon
1 pCi/L
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS18thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
4.6%
in the top 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
Franklin, Virginia (ZIP 23851), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 33% nationally (21,557th) and the bottom 29% of Virginia (623rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 5.9% nationally, physicians rests in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled binge drinking settles in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Elder services lands in the top 10.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other hand, outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled diabetes lands in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 10.3% nationally, and stroke settles in the top 11.3% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 23315, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
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 75.3 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $70,122 predicts 78.7 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,522 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 79.3; chronic-disease standing 16.1 — 63 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,505 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
23315
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.88
Closest healthier
23437
Virginiashares a border
Score 50.19
Similar health profile
29125
South Carolina98% similar profile
Score 42.81
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 | 33.4% | 30.9–36.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.8% | 42.6–48.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.8–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.7–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 19.4–24.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.2% | 16.5–20.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 37.4–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.0% | 36.0–48.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.5% | 13.3–17.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 79.7–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.6% | 80.3–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 87.0–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 65.4–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.9% | 58.1–63.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 71.9–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.0% | 27.6–34.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.7% | 35.8–45.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.0% | 22.7–27.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 16.1–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.7–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 15.1–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 34.6–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.6–22.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.8–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.1% | 18.7–23.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 18.1–23.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.1% | 31.0–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 40.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 20.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $70,122 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $244,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $999 | $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 | 75.3 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 75.3, 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