ZIP code
28152
in Shelby, North CarolinaPopulation 26,134
47.35/ 100
Ranked #19,719 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #487 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
486 units
in the top 4.7% 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.3 mi
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
2.2%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›The read
Overall, ZIP 28152, one of several in Shelby, North Carolina lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,719th) and the bottom 39% of North Carolina (487th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: lead in tap water lies at the national minimum, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic is in the bottom 17% nationally, and childcare settles in the top 17% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site resides in the bottom 4.8% nationally, modeled nitrate registers in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled pfas rests in the top 10.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk lies in the top 16% nationally.
A note on the terms: lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 28017, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
“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 76.3 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $57,806 predicts 77.9 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #2,055 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
28017
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.03
Closest healthier
28114
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.76
Similar health profile
28638
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 47.43
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 | 29.5% | 26.1–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 35.7–44.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 22.1–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 32.4–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 30.0–46.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.2% | 15.8–23.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.9–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.5–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.4–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 84.9–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.4% | 58.9–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 54.4–62.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 68.2–83.1 |
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 | 15.9% | 13.8–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 22.4–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 28.3–42.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.4% | 18.8–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.1–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–26.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–20.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 28.7–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 47.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 15.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 34.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $57,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $205,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $973 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 76.3, 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