ZIP code

24551

in Forest, VirginiaPopulation 28,554

ZipVitals Score

How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

60.62/ 100

Ranked #4,391 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.7%)

Ranked #139 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (top 16%)

Ranked #2 of 28 Lynchburg, VA ZIPs (top 7.2%)

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

Robust across all 9 health domains

Jump to a section

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.

Tooth loss

7.2%

in the bottom 9.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th

US9th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

6.1%

in the bottom 16% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th

US16th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

30.3%

in the bottom 26% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th

US26th

Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

The read

Judged by its overall standing, Forest, Virginia (ZIP 24551) sits in the top 13.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,391st) and the top 16% of Virginia (139th).

The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled food insecurity settles in the bottom 10.4% nationally, housing insecurity lands in the bottom 11.4% nationally, and arsenic rests in the bottom 12.0% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 12.4% nationally, tooth loss lands in the bottom 9.2% nationally, and utility shutoff rests in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 13.3% nationally, and grocery lands in the top 17% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the bottom 16% nationally, and self-care disability settles in the bottom 14.1% nationally.

Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 24536, just across the boundary. Across other measures, the ZIP also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.

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.

Compare withinUnited StatesVirginiaMetro area

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of the United States

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 71%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 89%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 71%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 83%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 82%

11%

Disability

healthier than 81%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 64%

About typical

close to the middle of the United States

Mental Health

healthier than 59%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 54%

Nothing measured is holding this score back.

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of Virginia

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 80%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 85%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 71%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 80%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 66%

Disability

healthier than 85%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 60%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 72%

About typical

close to the middle of Virginia

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 55%

14%

Nothing measured is holding this score back.

DomainHow this ZIP comparesShare

Lifting this score

healthier than most of this metro area

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 93%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 96%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 81%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 81%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 85%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

Disability

healthier than 96%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 63%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 67%

Nothing measured is holding this score back.

“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

2 of our published findings list 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.

Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.2 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $91,067 predicts 79.7 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,282 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.2 ± 1.3 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.3 years — 3.9 years above them.
Ranked #382 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

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

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Arthritis among adults	27.7%	24.9–30.6
High blood pressure among adults	33.4%	30.0–36.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults	9.3%	8.5–10.1
Current asthma among adults	10.5%	9.4–11.7
Coronary heart disease among adults	6.1%	5.5–6.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults	6.0%	5.2–6.7
Depression among adults	23.4%	20.3–26.6
Diagnosed diabetes among adults	11.3%	9.9–12.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened	38.8%	35.1–42.6
Obesity among adults	34.5%	28.6–40.9
Stroke among adults	3.0%	2.8–3.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years	7.2%	6.0–8.6

PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years	6.1%	5.1–7.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure	77.8%	75.1–80.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults	79.1%	76.0–82.1
Cholesterol screening among adults	88.8%	87.4–90.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years	70.5%	66.5–74.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults	73.6%	71.0–76.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years	76.1%	69.7–81.6

Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Binge drinking among adults	15.5%	13.0–18.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults	11.1%	9.5–12.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults	22.3%	19.0–26.0
Short sleep duration among adults	33.2%	28.4–38.4

Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults	15.4%	13.4–17.4
Frequent mental distress among adults	15.6%	13.9–17.4
Frequent physical distress among adults	12.2%	10.8–13.7

DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults	12.6%	11.2–14.2
Any disability among adults	28.4%	24.9–32.0
Hearing disability among adults	6.6%	5.9–7.3
Independent living disability among adults	6.7%	6.0–7.5
Mobility disability among adults	12.2%	10.7–13.8
Self-care disability among adults	2.9%	2.6–3.2
Vision disability among adults	3.7%	3.4–4.1

Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS

Measure	Crude prevalence	95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults	18.5%	16.0–21.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults	8.6%	7.4–10.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults	6.7%	5.6–7.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults	7.5%	6.5–8.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults	5.4%	4.8–6.1
Loneliness among adults	30.3%	26.3–34.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults	5.0%	4.3–5.7

Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed

Measure	Value	US median (p10–p90)	VA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate	8.0%	10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364	9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863
Uninsured 18–64	4.5%	9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286	8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861
No HS diploma (25+)	4.4%	7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505	9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872
Bachelor's or higher (25+)	45.9%	23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505	26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872
Unemployment rate (16+)	2.6%	3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274	3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860
Households without a vehicle	2.1%	3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322	3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862
Broadband subscription	94.1%	89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322	87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)	21.6%	23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322	23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862
Homeownership rate	82.5%	78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322	78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862
Crowded housing (>1 per room)	1.3%	1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322	0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862
Foreign-born population	3.6%	2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553	2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874
Single-parent households	59.3%	53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087	54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855
Population 65+	18.2%	19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553	20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874
Median age	41.7 yr	42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292	43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864
Median household income	$91,067	$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318	$73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804
Median home value	$362,500	$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049	$274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789
Median gross rent	$1,265	$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	81.2 yr ± 0.66	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 0.66 years of 81.2, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

Statistically similar ZIPs nationally

Similar means a ZIP whose health profile is shaped like this one’s — the same pattern of strengths and weaknesses across the nine health domains behind the Score, not similar demographics or income. The percentage is how closely the two patterns line up. A very similar ZIP can still have a different overall Score.

48346Michigan99% similar
Score 61.98View 48346 Compare this ZIP with 48346
21209Maryland98% similar
Score 64.40View 21209 Compare this ZIP with 21209
48362Michigan98% similar
Score 62.59View 48362 Compare this ZIP with 48362
49301Michigan98% similar
Score 68.93View 49301 Compare this ZIP with 49301
48348Michigan98% similar
Score 65.04View 48348 Compare this ZIP with 48348
48178Michigan98% similar
Score 64.87View 48178 Compare this ZIP with 48178
22406Virginia98% similar
Score 60.64View 22406 Compare this ZIP with 22406
01035Massachusetts98% similar
Score 69.62View 01035 Compare this ZIP with 01035
06415Connecticut98% similar
Score 64.32View 06415 Compare this ZIP with 06415
27243North Carolina98% similar
Score 59.28View 27243 Compare this ZIP with 27243

as of 2026

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