ZIP code
28144
in Salisbury, North CarolinaPopulation 27,977
45.93/ 100
Ranked #21,421 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #547 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #93 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Dental provider access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
335 units
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
59%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
26.6%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 28144, one of several in Salisbury, North Carolina lands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,421st) and the bottom 31% of North Carolina (547th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers rests in the top 6.3% nationally, and mental-health providers stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 7.2% nationally, outpatient lands in the top 8.0% nationally, and grocery sits in the top 8.0% nationally. Physicians is in the top 8.1% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 6.6% nationally, pfas resides in the top 8.4% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 9.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 27028, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
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 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $52,568 predicts 77.5 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #3,969 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 ± 0.9 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.1 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,850 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
27028
North Carolinashares a border
Score 50.89
Closest healthier
27299
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.76
Similar health profile
73105
Oklahoma89% similar profile
Score 43.83
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 | 30.1% | 26.9–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.3% | 37.3–45.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 20.1–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 32.5–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 32.4–47.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.5% | 13.4–19.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.5% | 10.8–14.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.3–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.1–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.4–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 60.7–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.3% | 53.5–61.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 70.2–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.4–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 25.9–34.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 27.6–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 21.8–27.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.8–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.2% | 34.9–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 20.7–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.6% | 19.8–25.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–24.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 15.0–19.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 28.8–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 46.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 38.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $52,568 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $226,700 | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 0.45 | 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 0.45 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