ZIP code
28056
in Gastonia, North CarolinaPopulation 36,200
56.37/ 100
Ranked #7,909 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #183 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #34 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 30%)
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
70.2%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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
1.2%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.2 per million
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 28056, one of several in Gastonia, North Carolina, by its composite score, sits in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,909th) and the top 23% of North Carolina (183rd).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 7.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Grocery registers in the top 12.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum, modeled pfas lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk resides in the top 9.2% nationally, expected annual loss is in the top 13.4% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 14.1% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 28101, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 13.9; chronic-disease standing 69.2 — 55 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,928 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
28012
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.52
Closest healthier
28101
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.28
Similar health profile
48329
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 57.69
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 | 27.6% | 24.3–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 30.9–39.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 20.9–28.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 32.2–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 26.2–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.2% | 9.1–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.2–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.5–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.9% | 87.4–90.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 62.6–72.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 63.5–70.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 72.2–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 12.8–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.4% | 17.8–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.8% | 28.9–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 25.2–33.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 17.9–24.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–14.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–11.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 26.7–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 50.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 16.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $90,427 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $315,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,214 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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