ZIP code
28012
in Belmont, North CarolinaPopulation 26,556
55.52/ 100
Ranked #8,842 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #202 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #37 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 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.
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
75.9%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.1 per million
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Belmont, North Carolina (ZIP 28012) ranks in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,842nd) and the top 25% of North Carolina (202nd).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled arsenic is in the bottom 8.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 11.8% nationally, and modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled pfas stands in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 7.3% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the top 12.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Close by, ZIP 28056, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
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
3 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 77.5 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $83,391 predicts 79.4 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,459 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 72.5 — 65 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,893 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.5 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #1,599 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28032
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.28
Closest healthier
28056
North Carolinashares a border
Score 56.37
Similar health profile
74114
Oklahoma98% similar profile
Score 57.50
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 | 26.8% | 23.6–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 29.8–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 21.7–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 31.5–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.9% | 25.7–40.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.5–12.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.1–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 73.3–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 75.8–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.2–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 63.1–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.4% | 64.0–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.1% | 72.2–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.2–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.1% | 17.6–24.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 28.2–40.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.9% | 14.8–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 25.3–33.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 16.9–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.5–14.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.5–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.5% | 26.4–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 52.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $83,391 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $374,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,383 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $957 ($715–$1,575) n=687 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.5 yr ± 0.69 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.3 yr (74.6–80.8) n=747 |
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 0.69 years of 77.5, 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