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ZipVitals

ZIP code

24088

in Ferrum, VirginiaPopulation 5,017

46.38/ 100

Ranked #20,887 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)

Ranked #605 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 31%)

Ranked #26 of 33 Roanoke, VA ZIPs (bottom 21%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Tree cover

78.4%

in the top 5.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US95th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

52.3 mi

in the top 11.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US89th
Definition & 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 ›

Mammography

69.6%

in the bottom 12.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST3rd
US12th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

Median household income

$41,769

in the bottom 6.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST5th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Ferrum, Virginia (ZIP 24088) ranks in the bottom 35% nationally (20,887th) and the bottom 31% of Virginia (605th).

continue reading

The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled tree cover registers in the top 5.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Set against that, modeled mammography lands in the bottom 12.4% nationally, household income sits in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and poverty is in the top 14.7% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the top 15% nationally. Recreation resides at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians registers at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.

To spell things out, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Close by, ZIP 24091, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.

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 Roanoke, VA metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 93%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 65%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 65%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 47%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 25%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 22%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 37%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 13%

8%

Disability

healthier than 32%

7%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 65%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 90%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 79%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 74%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 22%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 7%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 21%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 72%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 94%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 78%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 66%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 9%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 9%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 13%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 31%

7%

“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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults27.7%24.9–30.6
High blood pressure among adults34.8%31.1–38.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.0%7.2–8.7
Current asthma among adults11.5%10.2–12.9
Coronary heart disease among adults7.4%6.6–8.2
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.9%7.8–10.0
Depression among adults26.5%22.7–30.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.8%11.1–14.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.5%34.6–42.4
Obesity among adults33.9%27.2–40.9
Stroke among adults3.8%3.5–4.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years20.0%16.7–23.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.8%8.0–12.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.4%73.9–78.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults76.7%72.8–80.0
Cholesterol screening among adults81.5%78.7–83.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.0%61.5–70.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.7%56.2–63.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years69.6%62.1–76.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.2%13.4–19.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.0%13.8–18.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.1%22.8–31.7
Short sleep duration among adults37.6%31.8–43.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.7%18.9–24.8
Frequent mental distress among adults19.8%17.6–22.3
Frequent physical distress among adults15.3%13.6–17.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults18.8%16.5–21.6
Any disability among adults36.2%31.8–41.1
Hearing disability among adults7.9%7.1–8.9
Independent living disability among adults10.4%9.2–11.8
Mobility disability among adults15.8%13.9–17.8
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.9–4.8
Vision disability among adults5.7%5.2–6.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.1%18.1–24.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.6%13.2–18.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults13.8%11.8–16.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.3%9.7–13.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults9.4%8.2–10.9
Loneliness among adults34.7%30.2–40.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.6%6.6–8.9
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)VA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate22.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863
Uninsured 18–644.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861
No HS diploma (25+)15.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872
Bachelor's or higher (25+)20.5%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872
Unemployment rate (16+)3.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860
Households without a vehicle4.4%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862
Broadband subscription88.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)24.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862
Homeownership rate77.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862
Foreign-born population0.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5532.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874
Single-parent households45.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08754.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855
Population 65+14.7%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874
Median age36.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864
Median household income$41,769$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804
Median home value$152,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789
Median gross rent$643$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,144 ($742–$2,191) n=615
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)VA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth74.4 yr ± 1.8778.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30877.6 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 1.87 years of 74.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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