ZIP code
28054
in Gastonia, North CarolinaPopulation 41,707
50.02/ 100
Ranked #16,227 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #396 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranked #71 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.27 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
472 units
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.5 per million
in the top 7.1% 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 ›Homeownership rate
46.8%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.4 mi
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.89 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.35 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›The read
ZIP 28054, one of several in Gastonia, North Carolina, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,227th) and the top 50% of North Carolina (396th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: mental-health providers rests in the top 2.5% nationally, physicians sits in the top 4.6% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 4.8% nationally. Outpatient lands in the top 5.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers lies in the top 8.8% nationally. On the other hand, modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 7.1% nationally, and homeownership stands in the bottom 7.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and modeled disaster risk rests in the top 8.7% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 28056, 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 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
“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 75.5 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $61,035 predicts 78.1 years — 2.6 years below.
Ranked #3,625 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.5 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 0.9 years.
Ranked #1,534 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
28034
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.59
Closest healthier
28056
North Carolinashares a border
Score 56.37
Similar health profile
29673
South Carolina91% similar profile
Score 49.61
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 | 28.6% | 25.3–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 33.8–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.5–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 31.8–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.5% | 29.0–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.8% | 13.0–19.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.0–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 76.8–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.8–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 60.9–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.1–64.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.8–84.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.5–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 21.8–30.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 31.7–44.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 18.4–23.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.1–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.9% | 29.6–38.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 20.1–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 28.8–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 44.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 17.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $61,035 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $245,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,215 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.48 | 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 0.48 years of 75.5, 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