ZIP code
26610
in Birch River, West VirginiaPopulation 723
43.53/ 100
Ranked #23,869 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #84 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 12.1%)
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.
Tree cover
87.8%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST68thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.7%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
72.2%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
15.3 mi
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
44.3%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST38thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
10.3%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$37,165
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.5%
in the bottom 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS12thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Colon-cancer screening
71.9%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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
Birch River, West Virginia (ZIP 26610), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 26% nationally (23,869th) and the top 12.1% of West Virginia (84th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled tree cover lands in the top 2.0% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 7.8% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other hand, slow internet speeds rests in the top 6.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lands in the top 6.0% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 9.0% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Household income lands in the bottom 4.3% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Locally, no neighbor ranks healthier overall than this ZIP.
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 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
25063
West Virginiashares a border
Score 34.94
Similar health profile
25841
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 43.58
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 | 40.2% | 36.6–44.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.0% | 41.0–49.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.4 |
| Depression among adults | 30.5% | 26.9–34.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.3% | 40.3–49.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.4% | 32.6–47.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.9% | 14.3–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 5.7–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.9% | 78.4–83.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.3–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.6–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.9% | 67.4–76.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.5% | 57.1–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 70.5–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 11.2–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.9% | 15.5–22.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.0% | 26.8–37.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 33.1–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 20.8–28.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 17.7–22.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 14.9–20.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.6% | 33.7–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.5–21.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 18.8–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.3–17.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 11.8–17.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.9–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.8–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.9–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 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 | 63.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 41.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 59.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $37,165 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $84,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $825 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 1.36 | 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 1.36 years of 74.5, 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