ZIP code
26032
in Bethany, West VirginiaPopulation 1,061
48.44/ 100
Ranked #18,374 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #23 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 3.3%)
Ranked #2 of 31 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ZIPs (top 6.5%)
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
52 per million
in the top 0.5% 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 ›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 ›Slow internet speeds
3.4%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.1%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.1%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
68%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
39.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.4%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.1%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Bethany, West Virginia (ZIP 26032) places in the bottom 43% nationally (18,374th) and the top 3.3% of West Virginia (23rd).
The measures that matter most for this area lead the way: modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 0.5% nationally, and slow internet speeds sits in the top 3.4% nationally. PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, and modeled pfas rests in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled loneliness resides in the top 5.1% nationally. On the better side, fatal road crashes is at the national minimum, modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 3.5% nationally, and modeled stroke stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 5.1% nationally, and hearing disability settles in the bottom 7.2% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 26074, 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 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.5%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Disability
in the top 0.3%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 2.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 88.4 — 86 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,627 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
26003
West Virginiashares a border
Score 42.71
Closest healthier
26074
West Virginiashares a border
Score 51.44
Similar health profile
45409
Ohio97% similar profile
Score 51.61
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 | 21.8% | 19.6–24.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.4% | 25.1–31.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 30.7% | 26.4–35.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.1% | 26.9–33.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.4% | 26.7–40.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.4% | 11.9–17.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 4.8–8.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.8% | 65.6–70.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 72.8–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.0% | 75.7–83.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.1% | 67.5–76.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.5% | 57.5–65.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 68.5–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 14.9–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 8.9–13.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.1% | 17.8–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 35.1–49.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.8% | 14.1–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 23.1% | 19.4–26.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 9.9–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 14.9–22.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 26.6–37.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 6.8–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 18.9–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 8.9–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 7.8–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 7.4–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 6.6–10.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.5% | 33.5–45.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.3–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.3% | 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 | 68.4% | 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 | 8.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 57.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 10.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 21.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $116,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $670 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 76.7, 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