ZIP code
24347
in Hiwassee, VirginiaPopulation 1,677
47.56/ 100
Ranked #19,487 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #565 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #26 of 28 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA ZIPs (bottom 7.2%)
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.
Tree cover
81.6%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
32.1%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
70.7%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
45.8 mi
in the top 14.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›The read
Overall, Hiwassee, Virginia (ZIP 24347) lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,487th) and the bottom 35% of Virginia (565th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled tree cover lands in the top 4.3% nationally, and transportation noise sits in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise settles at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing resides at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 14.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other side, poverty stands in the top 5.7% nationally, home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 6.5% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol lands in the top 7.5% nationally.
A note on the terms: 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 24105, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 85.5; chronic-disease standing 23.0 — 63 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,565 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
24105
Virginiashares a border
Score 54.01
Closest healthier
24141
Virginiashares a border
Score 49.44
Similar health profile
49781
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 45.49
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 | 34.5% | 31.0–37.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 37.0–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.4–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.0% | 21.6–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.8% | 39.7–47.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.3–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.8% | 8.3–11.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 6.9–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 77.8–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 77.4–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.5–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 61.3–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.7% | 61.4–67.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 66.8–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.3–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 14.5–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.1% | 24.3–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 30.4–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 19.4–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.8% | 32.3–41.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.8% | 16.9–23.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 11.6–17.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 10.9–16.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 27.7–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 70.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.2% | 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 | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $55,156 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $159,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $850 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 1.05 | 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 1.05 years of 76.7, 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