ZIP code
45638
in Ironton, OhioPopulation 19,982
34.35/ 100
Ranked #29,602 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 7.7%)
Ranked #1,099 of 1,176 Ohio ZIPs (bottom 6.6%)
Ranked #43 of 65 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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 ›PFOA in drinking water
94.2%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Park land
18.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
73.5%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.4%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
38%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
272 units
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43.7%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mammography
69.1%
in the bottom 10.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
45.4%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Ironton, Ohio (ZIP 45638) sits in the bottom 7.7% nationally (29,602nd) and the bottom 6.6% of Ohio (1,099th).
A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: distance to a Superfund site stands at the national minimum, PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 6.8% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the top 8.7% nationally, obesity resides in the top 7.0% nationally, and mammography sits in the bottom 10.7% nationally. On the stronger side, park land stands in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled tree cover resides in the top 7.5% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 9.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 41169, 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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 73.3 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $52,728 predicts 77.6 years — 4.2 years below.
Ranked #5,183 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.3 ± 1.3 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.5 years — 2.1 years below them.
Ranked #1,650 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
41169
Kentuckyshares a border
Score 48.77
Closest healthier
45629
Ohioshares a border
Score 42.99
Similar health profile
25637
West Virginia99% similar profile
Score 22.25
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 | 36.5% | 33.6–39.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.4% | 41.9–48.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–13.8 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 25.1–31.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 37.3–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.7% | 38.4–49.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.6–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.6% | 18.3–25.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.7–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.6–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.5–85.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 57.6–66.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.1% | 49.7–56.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.1% | 61.9–75.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.5–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 22.4% | 20.0–24.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.9% | 31.9–39.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.4% | 37.4–47.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.2% | 24.5–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.7% | 18.8–22.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.5% | 36.8–44.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.0% | 17.9–22.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 18.8–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.0–22.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.0% | 32.8–42.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (3.5–26.2%) n=1,177 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (2.5–18.1%) n=1,174 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (2.3–17.0%) n=1,179 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.7% (8.1–45.8%) n=1,179 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.7% (0.0–9.8%) n=1,171 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.0–14.5%) n=1,177 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.9% (76.5–96.0%) n=1,177 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (11.2–34.6%) n=1,177 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (52.8–91.8%) n=1,177 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.5%) n=1,177 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–6.8%) n=1,180 |
| Single-parent households | 47.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (36.6–68.1%) n=1,168 |
| Population 65+ | 18.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.1–27.2%) n=1,180 |
| Median age | 40.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.2–50.5) n=1,169 |
| Median household income | $52,728 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $70,500 ($46,328–$101,197) n=1,127 |
| Median home value | $119,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,700 ($104,860–$310,980) n=1,117 |
| Median gross rent | $807 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $907 ($714–$1,294) n=1,007 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.3 yr ± 0.64 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.9 yr (74.0–81.3) n=1,154 |
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 0.64 years of 73.3, 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