ZIP code
28212
in Charlotte, North CarolinaPopulation 42,440
44.62/ 100
Ranked #22,794 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #590 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #96 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 15%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
19.5%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
48.4%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
43.8%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
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 ›Homeownership rate
38%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
23.4%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
30.8%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
15.8%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
15.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 28212, one of several in Charlotte, North Carolina stands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,794th) and the bottom 26% of North Carolina (590th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: lead in tap water rests at the national minimum. By contrast, modeled uninsured lands in the top 4.9% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled short sleep rests in the top 4.9% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and homeownership settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity rests in the top 5.3% nationally, food insecurity lands in the top 5.6% nationally, and utility shutoff settles in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled transportation rests in the top 6.1% nationally.
For clarity, 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. ZIP 28105, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 1.0%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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
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.
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 76.7 ± 1.5 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
28105
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.32
Closest healthier
28205
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.61
Similar health profile
92553
California98% similar profile
Score 43.59
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 | 22.3% | 19.6–24.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.4% | 30.8–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.9–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.7% | 28.0–35.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 29.8–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.5% | 18.7–26.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.5% | 17.3–21.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.9% | 68.5–74.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.7% | 73.0–79.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.5–84.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.0% | 51.9–61.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 48.8% | 45.1–52.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 67.3–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 11.0–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.8% | 27.5–36.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.8% | 38.8–48.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.7% | 22.9–28.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.0–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.2–21.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.7% | 32.6–40.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.5% | 25.8–33.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 30.8% | 27.5–34.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 26.2% | 23.3–29.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.7–26.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 32.2–41.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 36.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 24.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 48.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 38.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 37.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 9.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 32.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $52,723 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $266,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,362 | $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 ± 0.75 | 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 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