ZIP code
24526
in Big Island, VirginiaPopulation 1,494
50.59/ 100
Ranked #15,434 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #440 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #12 of 28 Lynchburg, VA ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
80.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Park land
53.2%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
84.2%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.4%
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
6.5%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.71 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.4%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
7.2%
in the top 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
4.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Big Island, Virginia (ZIP 24526), by its composite score, sits in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,434th) and the bottom 50% of Virginia (440th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: park land resides in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled tree cover is in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled pfas lands in the bottom 5.6% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Civic settles in the top 7.5% nationally, and modeled colon screening sits in the top 6.2% nationally. Pulling the other way, fatal road crashes lies in the top 0.9% nationally, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 10.6% nationally, and modeled transportation noise resides in the top 14.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. 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 comparison close by, see ZIP 24536, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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 75.4; chronic-disease standing 22.5 — 53 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,278 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
24416
Virginiashares a border
Score 48.04
Closest healthier
24536
Virginiashares a border
Score 64.95
Similar health profile
22971
Virginia96% similar profile
Score 49.38
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 | 34.2% | 30.5–37.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.5% | 37.3–45.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.8–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.3–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 38.7–47.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 32.7–47.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.0% | 9.8–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.1–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.2% | 78.3–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.6–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.7–90.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.4% | 69.0–77.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.0% | 65.7–72.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.3% | 64.4–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.1–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 12.9–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 24.9–35.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.0% | 29.3–41.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.3–25.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 31.2–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.4–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.5% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.4–15.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.1–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 25.9–35.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.5% | 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 | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 6.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 65.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 21.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 48.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $85,729 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $241,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $809 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 1.42 | 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 1.42 years of 77.6, 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