ZIP code
26181
in Washington, West VirginiaPopulation 6,167
47.92/ 100
Ranked #19,025 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #28 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 4.1%)
Ranked #1 of 13 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV ZIPs (top 7.7%)
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.
Colon-cancer screening
74.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.6%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.9%
in the bottom 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS12thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Mammography
79.9%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
57.3%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was 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 ›Floodplain exposure
19.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
4.4 mi
in the bottom 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.6%
in the bottom 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
10.3%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
8.6%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS24thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Washington, West Virginia (ZIP 26181), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 41% nationally (19,025th) and the top 4.1% of West Virginia (28th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled colon screening resides in the top 4.6% nationally, energy burden lies in the bottom 11.8% nationally, and mammography settles in the top 11.7% nationally. Housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 15.0% nationally. Working the other way, modeled high cholesterol is in the top 8.2% nationally, and pfas rests in the top 13.4% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 14.2% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled high blood pressure resides in the top 14.9% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 45742, 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 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
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
26101
West Virginiashares a border
Score 29.94
Closest healthier
45742
Ohioshares a border
Score 51.14
Similar health profile
26038
West Virginia97% similar profile
Score 46.94
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 | 38.9% | 35.4–42.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.2% | 40.3–47.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 30.4% | 26.6–34.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.6% | 39.5–47.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 34.9–46.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.8% | 11.3–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.6–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.4–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.4% | 80.6–86.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.3% | 88.9–91.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 69.9–77.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.8% | 60.4–67.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.9–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.3–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.7–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.8–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 33.8–44.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.7% | 18.1–23.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 30.2–38.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.6% | 16.8–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.6–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.6–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.1% | 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 | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 62.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 27.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 49.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $73,977 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $197,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $890 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 78.7, 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