ZIP code
28339
in Erwin, North CarolinaPopulation 6,894
46.08/ 100
Ranked #21,256 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #537 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
26.1%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.2 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
113.6 days/year
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Erwin, North Carolina (ZIP 28339) stands in the bottom 34% nationally (21,256th) and the bottom 32% of North Carolina (537th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: outer-floodplain exposure lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room settles in the top 8.0% nationally. PFOA in drinking water rests in the top 14.5% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. On the encouraging side, lead in tap water rests at the national minimum, outpatient lands in the top 5.1% nationally, and mental-health providers settles in the top 6.4% nationally. Childcare rests in the top 12.3% nationally, and modeled radon lands in the bottom 7.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 27521, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.3 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $50,313 predicts 77.4 years — 2.1 years below.
Ranked #2,836 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27521
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.15
Closest healthier
27546
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.83
Similar health profile
71219
Louisiana97% similar profile
Score 41.51
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% | 27.3–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 38.5–47.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 22.1–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.4–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 31.2–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.5% | 15.0–22.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.5–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 77.5–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.6–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.0% | 59.6–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.9% | 53.0–60.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 65.9–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.8–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 14.0–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.5% | 23.9–33.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 31.7–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.0–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.9–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 32.5–41.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.2–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.0–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 16.0–21.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.4–18.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 28.6–38.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 47.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 44.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $50,313 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $165,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,072 | $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 | 75.3 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 75.3, 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