ZIP code
28086
in Kings Mountain, North CarolinaPopulation 29,460
44.28/ 100
Ranked #23,145 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #600 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
416 units
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Park land
4.2%
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Kings Mountain, North Carolina (ZIP 28086) lands in the bottom 28% nationally (23,145th) and the bottom 24% of North Carolina (600th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 5.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 14.2% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the bottom 16% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas rests in the top 10.4% nationally, modeled disaster risk is in the top 13.0% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat lies in the top 16% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 28021, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
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
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.6 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $62,414 predicts 78.2 years — 3.6 years below.
Ranked #4,784 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28016
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.37
Closest healthier
28021
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.44
Similar health profile
27360
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 45.36
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 | 31.1% | 27.9–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.2% | 37.3–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 23.1–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.4–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 31.4–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.4% | 15.5–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.3–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.4–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.7–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 58.8–67.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.1% | 54.4–61.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.8% | 68.8–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.6–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.5% | 24.4–32.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.6% | 29.6–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.7–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 33.2–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.4–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 16.5–21.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.7–18.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 29.3–38.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 49.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $62,414 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $207,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $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 | 74.6 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 74.6, 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