ZIP code
25033
in Buffalo, West VirginiaPopulation 2,284
38.52/ 100
Ranked #27,708 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 13.6%)
Ranked #202 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #27 of 65 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH ZIPs (top 42%)
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
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.47 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
43.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.3%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.47 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.2%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47.4%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST53rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.1 mi
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0.00062 ppb
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
US10thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
Buffalo, West Virginia (ZIP 25033) ranks in the bottom 13.6% nationally (27,708th) and the top 29% of West Virginia (202nd).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum, and elder services resides in the top 2.6% nationally. Pharmacy stands in the top 5.8% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the bottom 10.0% nationally. On the other side, modeled short sleep resides in the top 4.7% nationally, modeled high cholesterol stands in the top 3.8% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure resides in the top 7.0% nationally, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 8.2% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 10.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 25082, 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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
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
25082
West Virginiashares a border
Score 45.03
Closest healthier
25168
West Virginiashares a border
Score 38.68
Similar health profile
25535
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 38.46
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 | 39.4% | 35.8–43.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.4% | 43.4–51.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–18.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.3% | 41.0–49.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 34.0–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.5% | 17.0–24.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.6–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.2–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.1–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.7–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 61.7–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.1% | 48.1–55.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.0% | 65.1–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.4–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.0% | 16.9–23.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.9% | 28.2–38.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.9% | 38.1–49.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.5% | 22.1–29.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.9% | 34.3–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 16.4–21.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 20.0–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.3–17.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.2–18.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.7–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.9% | 27.5–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–12.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 66.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 19.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $81,761 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $142,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $710 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $802 ($586–$1,085) n=293 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.2 yr ± 0.90 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.2 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 0.90 years of 76.2, 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