ZIP code
24502
in Lynchburg, VirginiaPopulation 41,979
53.98/ 100
Ranked #10,722 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #301 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #6 of 28 Lynchburg, VA ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
71.5%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
394 units
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS80thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS77thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 24502, one of several in Lynchburg, Virginia comes out in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,722nd) and the top 34% of Virginia (301st).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 6.0% nationally, transit registers in the top 7.0% nationally, and mental-health providers stands in the top 8.7% nationally. Dental providers lands in the top 12.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic is in the bottom 12.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Walkability rests in the top 14.6% nationally. Working the other way, modeled pfas lies in the top 4.1% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 10.4% nationally. Lead in tap water settles in the top 14.8% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 24503, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Lynchburg, VA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
“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
24501
Virginiashares a border
Score 44.87
Closest healthier
24503
Virginiashares a border
Score 60.41
Similar health profile
49423
Michigan96% similar profile
Score 58.46
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 | 26.7% | 24.6–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 32.3–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.5–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 21.4–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–13.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 33.7–40.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 30.3–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.5–14.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.4–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 74.5–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 76.1–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.5–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.9% | 67.6–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.7% | 64.1–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 71.1–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–27.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.6% | 30.2–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.7–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.2–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 12.1–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 14.4–17.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.3% | 29.4–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 8.1–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.9–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 18.4–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.3% | 31.5–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.3% | 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 | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 47.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 15.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 32.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $68,872 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $228,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $1,224 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.37 | 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 0.37 years of 78.4, 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