ZIP code
24592
in South Boston, VirginiaPopulation 14,589
41.86/ 100
Ranked #25,330 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #739 of 873 Virginia ZIPs (bottom 15%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.89 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Diabetes
19.3%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.0%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Stroke
5.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
23%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›High blood pressure
47.7%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›The read
South Boston, Virginia (ZIP 24592), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 21% nationally (25,330th) and the bottom 15% of Virginia (739th).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled diabetes is in the top 5.0% nationally, stroke rests in the top 5.3% nationally, and mobility disability sits in the top 6.8% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure registers in the top 6.5% nationally. Better still, mental-health providers lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and outpatient resides in the top 2.4% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lies in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and elder services settles in the top 4.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic is in the bottom 6.5% nationally.
In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 24520, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $51,547 predicts 77.5 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,064 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
24520
Virginiashares a border
Score 45.15
Closest healthier
24566
Virginiashares a border
Score 49.30
Similar health profile
27897
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 38.01
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 | 34.9% | 31.6–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.7% | 43.5–51.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 19.0–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.8% | 38.4–47.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 33.9–48.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.8% | 5.4–6.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.5% | 15.4–22.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.8% | 79.4–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 78.4–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.7–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 63.7–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.5% | 57.1–64.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 70.6–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.0% | 8.9–13.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.9% | 29.3–38.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.9% | 32.0–44.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.5% | 24.6–30.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.4% | 36.0–44.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.6–25.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.5–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.0% | 20.2–26.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.6–26.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–18.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.2–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | VA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.2% (2.0–22.9%) n=863 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (0.0–19.2%) n=861 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (1.9–20.7%) n=872 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.0% (9.2–59.8%) n=872 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.0–8.2%) n=860 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.3%) n=862 |
| Broadband subscription | 73.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (69.5–97.9%) n=862 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.1% (10.8–38.1%) n=862 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.1% (52.2–95.9%) n=862 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=862 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.9% (0.0–17.0%) n=874 |
| Single-parent households | 43.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.3% (38.2–78.2%) n=855 |
| Population 65+ | 22.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (10.8–37.3%) n=874 |
| Median age | 42.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (34.0–59.2) n=864 |
| Median household income | $51,547 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,854 ($46,504–$141,698) n=804 |
| Median home value | $168,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $274,800 ($123,240–$642,380) n=789 |
| Median gross rent | $778 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 75.8, 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