ZIP code
24220
in Birchleaf, VirginiaPopulation 503
38.07/ 100
Ranked #27,968 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.8%)
Ranked #805 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 7.8%)
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.
Tree cover
91.1%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
66.8%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
96.7%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.3%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
19.8%
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
27.9%
in the top 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
1.3%
in the bottom 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
61.9%
in the bottom 22% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Birchleaf, Virginia (ZIP 24220) ranks in the bottom 12.8% nationally (27,968th) and the bottom 7.8% of Virginia (805th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled tree cover is in the top 1.0% nationally, and homeownership stands in the top 6.7% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. On the other hand, home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 4.7% nationally, modeled independent living disability sits in the top 9.8% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability rests in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability is in the top 10.7% nationally.
In plainer terms, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 24226, 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 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
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.
Nearby
24217
Virginiashares a border
Score 36.93
Closest healthier
24226
Virginiashares a border
Score 38.89
Similar health profile
24927
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 30.93
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 | 36.8% | 32.6–40.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.9% | 39.1–48.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.7% | 10.7–15.0 |
| Depression among adults | 27.7% | 23.7–31.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 37.9–47.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 33.1–49.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 16.2–23.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 8.0–13.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 76.5–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.6–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 83.7–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.9% | 56.9–66.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 54.0–61.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.1% | 64.0–79.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.0–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 23.2% | 19.3–27.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.2% | 28.3–40.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.3% | 32.2–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 23.4–32.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.0–22.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.8% | 17.0–22.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.1% | 35.4–46.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.5–14.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.7% | 18.3–25.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 18.1–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 15.0–22.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.0% | 15.2–23.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 10.8–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.1–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 28.4–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.0–11.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 40.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 66.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 96.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 46.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 43.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 62.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $50,560 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 73.7 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 73.7, 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