ZIP code
26554
in Fairmont, West VirginiaPopulation 42,118
44.42/ 100
Ranked #23,001 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #71 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 10.2%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
304 units
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.071 per 1,000 residents
in the top 14.8% 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS79thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
2.3%
in the bottom 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS21stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS77thDefinition & 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
41.3%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
41.3%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Fairmont, West Virginia (ZIP 26554) places in the bottom 28% nationally (23,001st) and the top 10.2% of West Virginia (71st).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover rests in the top 11.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers is in the top 14.8% nationally, and elder services lands in the top 16% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site stands at the national minimum. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 26330, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
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 ›
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 76.3 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $69,712 predicts 78.7 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,232 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
26330
West Virginiashares a border
Score 53.48
Closest healthier
26501
West Virginiashares a border
Score 48.69
Similar health profile
25510
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 43.60
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 | 35.7% | 32.5–39.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.3% | 37.4–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 30.2% | 26.4–34.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.3% | 37.4–45.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.8% | 35.6–48.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 14.9–21.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.3–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.6–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 77.6–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.1–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 64.7–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 54.9–61.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 71.9–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.2–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.8% | 24.9–33.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.4% | 35.0–45.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.4% | 19.9–25.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 32.0–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 29.3–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 84.0% (61.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.0% (0.0–4.1%) n=694 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.0% (0.0–2.1%) n=696 |
| Single-parent households | 53.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 38.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $69,712 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $183,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $978 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.40 | 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 0.40 years of 76.3, 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