ZIP code
26690
in Swiss, West VirginiaPopulation 824
29.36/ 100
Ranked #30,894 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 3.7%)
Ranked #527 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #50 of 75 Beckley, WV ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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
95.3%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
46.3%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
28.7%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.6%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
35%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
31.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.0%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
44.7%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST45thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.3%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People living in poverty
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
- Chronic conditions
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Swiss, West Virginia (ZIP 26690), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 3.7% nationally (30,894th) and the bottom 24% of West Virginia (527th).
The readings that carry the most weight locally lead the way: modeled short sleep stands in the top 1.8% nationally, tooth loss is in the top 3.9% nationally, and cognitive disability rests in the top 4.6% nationally. Poverty sits in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled fair or poor health registers in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled independent living disability lands in the top 6.8% nationally. Walkability resides in the bottom 7.0% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol lies in the top 5.0% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled tree cover settles in the top 0.2% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.
A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 25085, just across the boundary. Across the board, the area also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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 Beckley, WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 1%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
25085
West Virginiashares a border
Score 31.87
Closest healthier
25812
West Virginiashares a border
Score 31.51
Similar health profile
26208
West Virginia100% similar profile
Score 29.57
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% | 37.0–42.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.7% | 42.4–49.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.0 |
| Depression among adults | 32.0% | 28.7–35.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.7% | 41.4–48.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 36.2–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 28.7% | 25.4–32.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.0–12.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.4% | 77.2–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.4–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.3–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.0% | 54.2–61.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 45.7% | 42.8–48.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 67.8–78.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 24.9% | 21.5–28.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.0% | 33.5–42.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 46.3% | 41.8–51.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 31.2% | 27.7–35.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 23.2% | 20.9–25.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 20.1% | 18.1–22.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.6% | 19.2–24.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.0% | 40.9–49.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.2% | 19.8–24.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.7% | 22.4–29.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.1% | 16.9–23.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.9% | 19.4–26.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.6–17.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 32.6–40.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–14.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 35.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 32.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 6.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.9% | 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 | 4.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 6.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 30.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $51,300 | $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
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.8 yr ± 1.38 | 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 1.38 years of 76.8, 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