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ZIP code

24701

in Bluefield, West VirginiaPopulation 17,117

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

34.39/ 100

Ranked #29,589 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 7.8%)

Ranked #354 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (bottom 49%)

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

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Short sleep

44%

in the top 4.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST70th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

45%

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST51st
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

22.8%

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST65th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

12.8%

in the top 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST64th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

63%

in the top 6.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US93rd
Definition & 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

18.2%

in the top 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST60th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

20.2%

in the top 8.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST56th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

14.0%

in the top 8.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST78th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

46.5%

in the top 8.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST43rd
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Tree cover

68.6%

in the top 9.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST22nd
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, Bluefield, West Virginia (ZIP 24701) lands in the bottom 7.8% nationally (29,589th) and the bottom 49% of West Virginia (354th).

continue reading

Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled short sleep rests in the top 4.5% nationally. Against that, modeled high cholesterol is in the top 4.4% nationally, and mobility disability stands in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled independent living disability settles in the top 7.5% nationally, pfas lies in the top 6.9% nationally, and diabetes resides in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lands in the top 8.5% nationally, utility shutoff registers in the top 8.8% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 8.7% nationally.

To translate a couple of 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 24314, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 60%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 83%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 84%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 48%

14%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 4%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 11%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 7%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 3%

8%

Disability

healthier than 10%

7%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 65%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 84%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 91%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 49%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 52%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 51%

8%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 29%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

“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 73.1 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $50,455 predicts 77.4 years — 4.2 years below.

    Ranked #5,189 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults42.3%38.9–45.6
High blood pressure among adults46.5%42.6–50.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.5%8.7–10.4
Current asthma among adults13.1%11.7–14.6
Coronary heart disease among adults9.6%8.8–10.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults12.5%11.3–13.8
Depression among adults31.0%27.2–34.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults18.2%16.2–20.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened45.0%41.0–49.1
Obesity among adults42.0%35.9–48.4
Stroke among adults5.0%4.6–5.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years22.3%19.0–26.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.1%7.6–10.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.5%79.2–83.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults82.4%79.5–85.1
Cholesterol screening among adults86.7%85.0–88.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.6%63.2–72.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults51.7%48.2–55.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.9%68.9–82.0
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.7%10.4–15.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults21.8%19.3–24.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults35.7%31.4–40.1
Short sleep duration among adults44.0%38.4–49.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults29.1%26.2–32.1
Frequent mental distress among adults21.6%19.5–23.9
Frequent physical distress among adults18.9%16.9–20.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults20.2%18.3–22.3
Any disability among adults43.7%39.6–47.9
Hearing disability among adults9.7%8.7–10.8
Independent living disability among adults12.8%11.5–14.0
Mobility disability among adults22.8%20.6–25.2
Self-care disability among adults5.7%5.3–6.3
Vision disability among adults7.1%6.5–7.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.6%20.3–27.2
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults19.6%17.2–22.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults23.3%20.7–26.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults14.8%12.9–16.8
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults10.9%9.6–12.2
Loneliness among adults35.8%31.2–40.7
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults14.0%12.4–15.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WV median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate17.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36416.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694
Uninsured 18–649.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682
No HS diploma (25+)12.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695
Bachelor's or higher (25+)22.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50514.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695
Unemployment rate (16+)5.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668
Households without a vehicle8.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694
Broadband subscription87.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32285.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)21.1%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32216.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694
Homeownership rate68.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32284.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694
Foreign-born population1.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696
Single-parent households49.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686
Population 65+26.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55322.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696
Median age45.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29245.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681
Median household income$50,455$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539
Median home value$105,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553
Median gross rent$811$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$802 ($586–$1,085) n=293
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WV median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth73.1 yr ± 0.5478.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30876.2 yr (73.1–81.1) n=686

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 0.54 years of 73.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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