ZIP code
28214
in Charlotte, North CarolinaPopulation 43,837
54.92/ 100
Ranked #9,530 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #221 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #41 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
75.6%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Transportation noise
14.8%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
31.7%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.6 mi
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.8%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
41%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 28214, one of several in Charlotte, North Carolina sits in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,530th) and the top 28% of North Carolina (221st).
Reading across the measures, this area's clearest strengths come through: modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 5.9% nationally, arsenic lands in the bottom 9.0% nationally, and coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Lead in tap water lies in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 9.0% nationally. By contrast, modeled pfas stands in the top 2.9% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the top 4.5% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 9.2% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. ZIP 28012, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
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
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.1 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 84.8 — 78 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,035 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28012
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.52
Closest healthier
28278
North Carolinashares a border
Score 63.45
Similar health profile
51250
Iowa96% similar profile
Score 58.17
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 | 22.4% | 19.7–25.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.0–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.7% | 28.0–35.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.0% | 26.7–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 9.6–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 10.2–13.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 70.3–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.4–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.8–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.2% | 57.2–66.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.8% | 56.3–63.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 71.4–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.0–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 19.9–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.0% | 36.1–45.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 25.6–32.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 23.0–30.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–16.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.6–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 43.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 12.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 35.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $86,447 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $295,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,696 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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