ZIP code
26250
in Belington, West VirginiaPopulation 5,322
31.25/ 100
Ranked #30,490 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.0%)
Ranked #479 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Tooth loss
30%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
44.2%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.4%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.9%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Obesity
45.2%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
76.1%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST34thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.9%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47.1%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
17.5%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.8%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Belington, West Virginia (ZIP 26250) ranks in the bottom 5.0% nationally (30,490th) and the bottom 31% of West Virginia (479th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled tree cover stands in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled tooth loss lands in the top 3.2% nationally, short sleep sits in the top 4.2% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled independent living disability settles in the top 7.1% nationally, obesity resides in the top 4.1% nationally, and fair or poor health registers in the top 8.5% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 7.5% nationally, and diabetes stands in the top 9.8% nationally.
To spell things out, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Close by, ZIP 26201, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
“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 74.1 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $47,682 predicts 77.2 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,154 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 74.1 ± 1.5 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.2 years — 4.1 years below them.
Ranked #3,064 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 62.2; chronic-disease standing 4.3 (bottom 10%) — 58 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,892 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
26201
West Virginiashares a border
Score 39.02
Closest healthier
26241
West Virginiashares a border
Score 39.37
Similar health profile
26208
West Virginia100% similar profile
Score 29.57
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 | 39.0% | 35.5–42.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.1% | 43.0–51.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
| Depression among adults | 32.5% | 28.6–36.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.8% | 39.6–48.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.2% | 37.8–53.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 30.0% | 25.5–35.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.4–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 76.5–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.5–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.2–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 58.6–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.5% | 43.8–51.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.5% | 64.2–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.6–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 23.9% | 21.0–26.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 37.7% | 32.8–42.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.2% | 38.0–50.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.9% | 26.5–33.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 23.1% | 20.9–25.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.4–21.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.1–23.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 43.0% | 38.6–47.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.4% | 18.9–23.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.4% | 21.1–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 17.5–23.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.7% | 20.7–26.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.3–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.8% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 47.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 16.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 39.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $47,682 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $112,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $831 | $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 | 74.1 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 74.1, 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