ZIP code
26845
in Old Fields, West VirginiaPopulation 1,015
48.06/ 100
Ranked #18,844 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #25 of 697 West Virginia ZIPs (top 3.6%)
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.
Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Home broadband subscription
70.9%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST17thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
39.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
44.8%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
12.1%
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.8%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.5 pCi/L
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS80thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
6.7%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
8.9%
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS28thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Old Fields, West Virginia (ZIP 26845) stands in the bottom 41% nationally (18,844th) and the top 3.6% of West Virginia (25th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: recreation registers in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the bottom 11.8% nationally, and modeled pfas registers in the bottom 14.2% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other side, home broadband subscription is in the bottom 6.6% nationally, fatal road crashes registers in the top 7.1% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol lies in the top 4.8% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the top 12.7% nationally, and distance to a nursing home registers in the top 14.0% nationally.
For clarity, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. ZIP 21561, about 15 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 81.5; chronic-disease standing 15.7 — 66 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,333 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
26710
West Virginiashares a border
Score 44.98
Closest healthier
21561
Marylandabout 15 mi away
Score 52.09
Similar health profile
46776
Indiana97% similar profile
Score 48.13
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 | 39.6% | 35.5–43.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.9% | 40.0–49.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 7.5–11.6 |
| Depression among adults | 28.3% | 24.2–32.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–18.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.8% | 40.0–49.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.7% | 29.5–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.7% | 13.7–19.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 4.8–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.8% | 79.0–84.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.1% | 79.7–86.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.0–91.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 65.0–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.1% | 57.4–64.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 70.4–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.0–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 12.1–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 22.7–34.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 31.6–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 17.7–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.5–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 12.6–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.1% | 29.7–40.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 13.6–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.0–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 3.7–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 16.9–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 8.3–14.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 8.4–14.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 6.9–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.1–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 25.6–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.1–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WV median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 16.3% (0.0–41.0%) n=694 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.1% (0.0–21.5%) n=682 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.8% (0.9–29.6%) n=695 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 14.1% (0.0–32.5%) n=695 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–17.9%) n=668 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.3% (0.0–17.1%) n=694 |
| Broadband subscription | 70.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 85.7% (62.6–100.0%) n=694 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 16.7% (0.0–34.6%) n=694 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.1% | 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 | 31.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 57.0% (31.3–90.6%) n=686 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.0% (10.4–45.0%) n=696 |
| Median age | 26.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.9 yr (32.6–62.1) n=681 |
| Median household income | $64,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,088 ($33,083–$85,218) n=539 |
| Median home value | $134,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $125,600 ($66,920–$223,500) n=553 |
| Median gross rent | $1,526 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 2.63 | 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 2.63 years of 78.1, 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