ZIP code
28138
in Rockwell, North CarolinaPopulation 10,271
51.83/ 100
Ranked #13,669 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #316 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #56 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Pharmacy access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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
In overall standing, Rockwell, North Carolina (ZIP 28138) comes out in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,669th) and the top 40% of North Carolina (316th).
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: pharmacy rests in the top 9.6% nationally, modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and modeled radon sits in the bottom 17% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 20% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas registers in the top 13.6% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 16% nationally. Crowded housing lands in the top 18% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the top 19% nationally. Childcare resides at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 21% nationally.
In plain 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28025, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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 74.7 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $66,896 predicts 78.5 years — 3.8 years below.
Ranked #4,960 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.7 ± 1.5 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.5 years — 2.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,218 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
28023
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.57
Closest healthier
28025
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.95
Similar health profile
97121
Oregon96% similar profile
Score 51.77
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 | 29.7% | 26.7–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.9% | 32.2–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 23.2–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 33.2–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 29.0–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.2–16.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 7.9–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.2% | 73.1–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.5–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.2–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.5% | 58.7–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 59.3–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 66.7–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.1–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 13.9–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 21.0–29.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 24.8–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.4% | 30.4–38.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.5–23.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.1–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.2–13.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 26.6–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.3% | 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+) | 19.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.1% | 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) | 21.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 59.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $66,896 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $216,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $966 | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 74.7, 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