ZIP code
25143
in Nitro, West VirginiaPopulation 8,714
38.96/ 100
Ranked #27,421 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.5%)
Ranked #186 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #13 of 83 Charleston, WV ZIPs (top 16%)
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.
Air-toxics cancer risk
44.4 per million
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
19.1%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
8.4%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.4%
in the top 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Walkability
64 intersections/sq mi
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
74 units
in the top 21% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
43.6%
in the top 26% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Nitro, West Virginia (ZIP 25143) ranks in the bottom 14.5% nationally (27,421st) and the top 27% of West Virginia (186th).
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 1.9% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled transportation noise resides in the top 11.3% nationally, loud transportation noise registers in the top 13.2% nationally, and high blood pressure rests in the top 13.0% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol stands in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. On the better side, lead in tap water lands at the national minimum.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Close by, ZIP 25213, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Charleston, WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
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
3 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 73.5 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $53,205 predicts 77.6 years — 4.1 years below.
Ranked #5,104 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.5 ± 1.4 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.0 years — 2.5 years below them.
Ranked #1,921 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 44.4 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 73.5 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #303 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
25064
West Virginiashares a border
Score 36.51
Closest healthier
25213
West Virginiashares a border
Score 48.25
Similar health profile
25704
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 36.42
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% | 34.4–39.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.8% | 41.9–47.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.8–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 31.0% | 28.1–34.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.9% | 40.0–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 36.0–44.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.6% | 16.0–21.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.9–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.6–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.8–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.7–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.9% | 66.6–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.4% | 57.5–63.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.2% | 70.1–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.7–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.5% | 17.5–21.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.3% | 29.1–36.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.5% | 35.8–43.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 21.8–26.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.7% | 19.9–23.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.2–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.9–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.2% | 36.0–42.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.5–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 21.7–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 30.8–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 49.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 43.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $53,205 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $128,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $907 | $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 | 73.5 yr ± 0.69 | 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 0.69 years of 73.5, 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