ZIP code
28206
in Charlotte, North CarolinaPopulation 15,375
44.20/ 100
Ranked #23,225 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #605 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #98 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 13.3%)
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.
Short sleep
45.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
801 units
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
32.9%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
18%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full 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 ›Housing insecurity
23.9%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
16.1%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
31%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.8%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 28206, one of several in Charlotte, North Carolina sits in the bottom 28% nationally (23,225th) and the bottom 24% of North Carolina (605th).
A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: modeled short sleep is in the top 2.2% nationally, homeownership lies in the bottom 3.7% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff registers in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 4.5% nationally, housing insecurity lies in the top 4.9% nationally, and transportation registers in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity is in the top 5.4% nationally. On the stronger side, subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and lead in tap water registers at the national minimum. Modeled high cholesterol is in the bottom 4.3% nationally.
Put plainly, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 28202, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 1.0%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
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
3 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 73.7 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $61,818 predicts 78.2 years — 4.5 years below.
Ranked #5,349 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 73.7 ± 1.8 years. The 36 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 5.3 years below them.
Ranked #3,429 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 73.7 ± 1.8 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28202
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.80
Closest healthier
28204
North Carolinashares a border
Score 68.55
Similar health profile
40404
Kentucky97% similar profile
Score 42.23
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 | 23.6% | 20.9–26.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.8% | 34.2–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.5% | 20.2–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.8% | 27.2–34.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 32.1–43.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.4% | 20.3–28.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.3% | 13.2–17.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.2% | 71.4–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.8–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.8–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.0% | 52.8–62.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.7% | 44.1–51.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 71.7–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.4–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.4% | 26.2–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 45.8% | 40.8–50.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.7% | 22.7–28.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.4–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.8–21.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.5% | 32.4–40.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.1% | 25.3–33.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.0% | 27.7–34.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 29.6% | 26.4–33.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.9% | 21.2–26.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.6% | 31.9–41.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 32.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 36.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 8.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 33.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $61,818 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $298,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,400 | $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 | 73.7 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 73.7, 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