ZIP code
28392
in Tar Heel, North CarolinaPopulation 1,758
46.02/ 100
Ranked #21,325 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #542 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.
Fatal road crashes
79.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
44.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
11.7%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
38.9%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Tar Heel, North Carolina (ZIP 28392) ranks in the bottom 33% nationally (21,325th) and the bottom 32% of North Carolina (542nd).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: fatal road crashes lands in the top 1.0% nationally, and poverty registers in the top 2.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 10.5% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the top 11.4% nationally. On the stronger side, childcare stands in the top 4.5% nationally, lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled radon lies in the bottom 4.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 10.6% nationally.
In plainer terms, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 28306, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 81.1; chronic-disease standing 17.8 — 63 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,495 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
28306
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.60
Closest healthier
28312
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.10
Similar health profile
23415
Virginia98% similar profile
Score 46.72
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 | 32.5% | 29.0–36.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.7% | 41.4–50.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.2–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.6% | 35.2–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 32.7–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.9% | 17.1–24.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.8% | 8.8–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.4–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.6–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.9% | 87.2–90.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 61.1–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.3% | 50.0–58.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 69.7–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 10.3–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.1–33.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.8% | 31.9–46.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 20.1–26.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.8% | 32.3–41.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.3–21.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.3–28.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.6% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 13.6–19.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.3–17.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 28.2–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 44.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 65.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 45.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $116,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $908 | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 2.40 | 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 2.40 years of 82.2, 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