ZIP code
24562
in Howardsville, VirginiaPopulation 820
40.26/ 100
Ranked #26,571 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #772 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 11.6%)
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.
Fiber broadband
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
7.9%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
18.8%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.7%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.3%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
18.9 mi
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
22.8%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47.5%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.4%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Howardsville, Virginia (ZIP 24562) ranks in the bottom 17% nationally (26,571st) and the bottom 11.6% of Virginia (772nd).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: fiber broadband registers at the national maximum, and modeled pfas rests in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Modeled binge drinking stands in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled diabetes lands in the top 6.0% nationally, stroke sits in the top 6.0% nationally, and high cholesterol is in the top 3.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles in the top 6.3% nationally, modeled mobility disability resides in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure registers in the top 6.8% nationally.
To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 22937, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
22937
Virginiashares a border
Score 57.40
Closest healthier
22969
Virginiashares a border
Score 50.62
Similar health profile
65766
Missouri100% similar profile
Score 32.75
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 | 36.9% | 33.8–39.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.5% | 43.8–51.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.4–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.5% | 9.8–13.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.7–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.8% | 16.8–20.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.3% | 41.4–48.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 35.5–49.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.2% | 17.2–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 8.2–13.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.9% | 80.8–84.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 79.1–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.1–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.5–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.5% | 55.1–61.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 65.4–78.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.8% | 10.0–13.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.6% | 15.5–21.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.8% | 28.1–37.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 32.7–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.9% | 23.4–30.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.5–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.0–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.3% | 36.8–45.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.8% | 19.9–25.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.6–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 15.1–21.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 29.7–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.0% | 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 | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.3% | 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 | 4.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 63.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 51.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 65.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $58,884 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $316,000 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 76.5, 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