ZIP code
26241
in Elkins, West VirginiaPopulation 14,102
39.37/ 100
Ranked #27,157 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #174 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 25%)
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.
Tree cover
80.6%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST44thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›Obesity
45.5%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.5%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Park land
10.8%
in the top 11.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.72 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.072 per 1,000 residents
in the top 14.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›The read
Overall, Elkins, West Virginia (ZIP 26241) places in the bottom 15% nationally (27,157th) and the top 25% of West Virginia (174th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: modeled tree cover rests in the top 4.7% nationally, and elder services resides in the top 4.8% nationally. Physicians is in the top 5.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Grocery stands in the top 6.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Childcare settles in the top 10.5% nationally, and civic sits in the top 10.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled obesity lies in the top 3.7% nationally, and short sleep rests in the top 7.8% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 26253, 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.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 63.9; chronic-disease standing 8.3 (bottom 10%) — 56 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,069 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
26250
West Virginiashares a border
Score 31.25
Closest healthier
26253
West Virginiashares a border
Score 40.62
Similar health profile
26651
West Virginia100% similar profile
Score 40.62
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 | 39.8% | 36.1–43.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.6% | 41.3–50.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| Depression among adults | 31.4% | 27.2–36.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.0–47.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.5% | 37.6–53.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.6% | 18.0–25.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.0–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.7–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.0–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.6–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 61.8–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.5% | 49.8–57.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 67.1–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.1–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.5–21.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.1% | 28.2–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.5% | 35.9–49.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.7% | 22.5–29.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.9% | 18.5–23.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.4–21.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.6% | 35.7–45.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.2% | 16.9–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.3–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.5–18.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 14.8–20.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.2–41.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 48.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 24.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 45.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $50,538 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $152,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $846 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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