Skip to main content
ZipVitals

Menu

ZIP code

26438

in Spelter, West VirginiaPopulation 87

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

36.10/ 100

Ranked #28,950 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 9.8%)

Ranked #285 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 41%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Home broadband subscription

19.1%

in the bottom 0.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

14.9%

in the bottom 1.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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 ›

Poverty rate

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US3rd
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

72%

in the top 3.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the bottom 4.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US4th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

High cholesterol

45.9%

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST66th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

11.4%

in the bottom 4.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US4th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

The read

In its overall standing, Spelter, West Virginia (ZIP 26438) lands in the bottom 9.8% nationally (28,950th) and the top 41% of West Virginia (285th).

continue reading

Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 0.4% nationally, homeownership is in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lands in the top 2.9% nationally. On the better side, housing-cost burden lies at the national minimum, and modeled transportation noise stands at the national minimum. Poverty rests at the national minimum, and modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and binge drinking settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally.

Against the wider neighborhood, home broadband subscription runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. On the overall standing, ZIP 26330, less than a tenth of a mile away, ranks healthier.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 73%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 73%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 56%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 53%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 3%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 12%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 4%

8%

Disability

healthier than 11%

7%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 85%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 83%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 83%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 65%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 63%

5%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 42%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 50%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 6%

14%

“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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults42.8%38.4–47.0
High blood pressure among adults47.4%42.4–52.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.5%9.3–11.8
Current asthma among adults13.1%11.4–15.0
Coronary heart disease among adults10.1%8.6–11.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults12.9%10.4–15.8
Depression among adults30.8%26.5–35.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults18.5%15.5–21.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened45.9%40.8–50.8
Obesity among adults42.8%35.3–50.4
Stroke among adults4.9%4.2–5.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years23.6%19.9–27.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.7%5.9–12.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure82.4%79.1–85.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults83.4%79.9–86.4
Cholesterol screening among adults88.7%86.1–91.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.1%63.0–71.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults54.0%50.4–57.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.6%69.9–82.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults11.4%9.0–14.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults21.7%16.5–27.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults34.4%27.9–41.0
Short sleep duration among adults40.2%35.0–45.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults28.7%23.6–34.6
Frequent mental distress among adults20.8%17.7–23.9
Frequent physical distress among adults19.0%15.9–22.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults19.4%15.8–23.3
Any disability among adults40.7%34.5–46.8
Hearing disability among adults10.1%8.7–11.7
Independent living disability among adults12.5%10.2–15.2
Mobility disability among adults21.9%18.1–26.1
Self-care disability among adults5.7%4.6–7.1
Vision disability among adults7.0%5.7–8.5
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.2%17.5–25.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults18.2%13.3–23.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults21.6%15.7–27.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.9%9.8–16.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults9.5%7.5–11.7
Loneliness among adults31.7%26.9–37.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults12.1%9.6–14.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WV median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate0.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36416.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682
No HS diploma (25+)0.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695
Bachelor's or higher (25+)0.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50514.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694
Broadband subscription19.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32285.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)0.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32216.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694
Homeownership rate14.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32284.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696
Single-parent households100.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08757.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686
Population 65+0.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55322.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696
Median age52.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29245.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681
Median household income$78,669$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539
Median home value—$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553
Median gross rent—$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$802 ($586–$1,085) n=293
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WV median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth86.3 yr ± 3.4878.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30876.2 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 3.48 years of 86.3, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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