ZIP code
28216
in Charlotte, North CarolinaPopulation 57,507
53.95/ 100
Ranked #10,760 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #250 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #46 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 41%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
786 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
72%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
43.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.7%
in the bottom 4.2% 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 ›Hearing disability
4.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
50.9%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0.00054 ppb
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
US10thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
5.0%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 28216, one of several in Charlotte, North Carolina sits in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,760th) and the top 32% of North Carolina (250th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled high cholesterol lies in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Lead in tap water stands in the bottom 9.9% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease is in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled pfas rests in the top 3.9% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep registers in the top 5.8% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 7.4% nationally. Homeownership resides in the bottom 9.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land 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 28078, 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 78%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
“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
4 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 76.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $65,795 predicts 78.4 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,509 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 76.5 ± 1.1 years. The 37 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.5 years — 2.0 years below them.
Ranked #1,567 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 23.5; chronic-disease standing 77.6 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,813 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, 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 76.5 ± 1.1 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
28078
North Carolinashares a border
Score 65.66
Closest healthier
28120
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.56
Similar health profile
31909
Georgia95% similar profile
Score 55.82
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 | 22.6% | 19.9–25.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.9% | 31.3–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 18.6–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.7% | 27.1–34.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 28.7–39.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.1% | 13.1–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.4% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 71.5–77.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.6–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.6–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.5% | 58.7–68.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 54.8–61.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.8% | 73.0–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.3–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 20.9–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.3% | 38.3–48.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.9–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.9–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.9% | 24.3–31.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.4% | 18.8–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 31.0–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–14.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 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 | 92.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 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 | 41.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 10.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 34.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $65,795 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $287,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,560 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 76.5, 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