ZIP code
26537
in Kingwood, West VirginiaPopulation 5,276
42.89/ 100
Ranked #24,479 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #98 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 14.1%)
Ranked #11 of 22 Morgantown, WV ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Elder-services access
0.36 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.73 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.55 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Tree cover
72.4%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST29thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.36 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›High cholesterol
43.7%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.73 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.1% 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Kingwood, West Virginia (ZIP 26537), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 24% nationally (24,479th) and the top 14.1% of West Virginia (98th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: elder services stands in the top 3.6% nationally, and childcare registers in the top 4.8% nationally. Outpatient settles in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Pharmacy rests in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Physicians is in the top 12.1% nationally, and dental providers lands in the top 13.1% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled high cholesterol stands in the top 7.8% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 26542, 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 Morgantown, 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 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.9 years. A median household income of $59,844 predicts 78.1 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,502 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
26410
West Virginiashares a border
Score 35.82
Closest healthier
26542
West Virginiashares a border
Score 43.73
Similar health profile
26451
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 43.57
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 | 39.9% | 36.2–43.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.9% | 39.6–48.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 30.6% | 26.6–35.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.7% | 39.2–48.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.2–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.0% | 15.0–21.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.4–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.3% | 77.4–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 77.8–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.1–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 63.0–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 53.9–61.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.1–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 16.2–22.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 26.3–36.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 30.9–42.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.7% | 21.4–28.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.4% | 18.1–22.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.6% | 34.9–44.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.3–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.4–26.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.1–17.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.2–18.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.4–13.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.9–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.5 |
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 | 11.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.9% | 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) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 54.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 23.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 45.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $59,844 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $169,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $687 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 75.5, 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