ZIP code
26508
in Morgantown, West VirginiaPopulation 40,231
54.56/ 100
Ranked #9,990 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #3 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 0.5%)
Ranked #1 of 22 Morgantown, WV ZIPs (top 4.6%)
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.
Mammography
83.5%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
63.5%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
283 units
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
69.3%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST23rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
2.7%
in the bottom 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
0.3 mi
in the bottom 13.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
2.9%
in the bottom 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS14thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
6.1%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
5.6%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS17thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 26508, one of several in Morgantown, West Virginia places in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,990th) and the top 0.5% of West Virginia (3rd).
The clearest bright points in the data come first here: modeled mammography lies in the top 1.8% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled tree cover resides in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden lands in the bottom 8.2% nationally, and stroke stands in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room settles in the bottom 13.6% nationally, and modeled self-care disability sits in the bottom 14.1% nationally. By contrast, modeled pfas lies in the top 6.6% 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, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Among the ZIPs nearby, none ranks healthier overall than this one.
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 Morgantown, WV 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 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $90,041 predicts 79.7 years — 2.3 years below.
Ranked #3,121 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
15327
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 38.91
Similar health profile
19154
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 55.96
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 | 28.5% | 25.5–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.7% | 30.1–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 24.8–32.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.7–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.2% | 33.3–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.2% | 26.9–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 10.5–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.3–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.4–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.6–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 63.6–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.8–68.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.5% | 77.8–88.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 14.7–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.8% | 18.5–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 33.3–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.0–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.6% | 24.1–31.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.1–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 28.6–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 45.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $90,041 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $311,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $1,011 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 77.4, 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