ZIP code
28168
in Vale, North CarolinaPopulation 10,484
51.05/ 100
Ranked #14,778 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #349 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #64 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
The read
Vale, North Carolina (ZIP 28168), in overall standing, comes out in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,778th) and the top 44% of North Carolina (349th).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 12.7% nationally, modeled transportation noise settles in the bottom 19% nationally, and grocery lands in the top 20% nationally. Modeled short sleep rests in the bottom 24% nationally. Against that, recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat lands in the top 19% nationally. Physicians rests at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas settles in the top 20% nationally, and fatal road crashes lands in the top 21% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28650, about 2.0 miles away.
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 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Lifting this score
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28021
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.44
Closest healthier
28650
North Carolinaabout 2.0 mi away
Score 51.34
Similar health profile
27018
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 51.39
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 | 30.6% | 27.8–33.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 35.1–41.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 26.7% | 23.6–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 35.1–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 30.5–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.0% | 11.0–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.2–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.3–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 76.0–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.0–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 62.1–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 59.5–65.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 70.4–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–28.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.3–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.6–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 30.1–37.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.2–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.0–14.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.6–12.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 28.3–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 45.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 47.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $61,220 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $205,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $821 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 76.7, 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