ZIP code
28037
in Denver, North CarolinaPopulation 28,768
61.40/ 100
Ranked #3,876 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.1%)
Ranked #75 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #23 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 20%)
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.
Food insecurity
7.8%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.6%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
61.1%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.94 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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
96.7%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Denver, North Carolina (ZIP 28037) lands in the top 12.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,876th) and the top 9.5% of North Carolina (75th).
The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and transportation is in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and mammography settles in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lies in the bottom 8.6% nationally, modeled energy burden resides in the bottom 6.2% nationally, and recreation lands in the top 10.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled pfas sits in the top 7.6% nationally, and disaster risk rests in the top 9.6% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 28031, just across the boundary. On a broader view, the area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
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 78.8 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $111,703 predicts 80.5 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,126 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.8 ± 1.4 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.6 years — 2.2 years above them.
Ranked #1,297 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
28031
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.86
Closest healthier
28078
North Carolinashares a border
Score 65.66
Similar health profile
38138
Tennessee98% similar profile
Score 64.25
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 | 28.9% | 25.7–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 31.8–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.2–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.3% | 21.0–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 33.7–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.6% | 25.7–40.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.1% | 6.5–9.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 75.6–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 77.7–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.9% | 89.6–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.0% | 66.7–75.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.5% | 69.4–75.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.6% | 75.8–86.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.3–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.2% | 15.1–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.6% | 25.0–36.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.7% | 23.1–30.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.0–13.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.8% | 16.0–21.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.5–9.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.1% | 24.8–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 58.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 20.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 45.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $111,703 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $491,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $898 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 78.8, 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