ZIP code
28403
in Wilmington, North CarolinaPopulation 40,319
55.65/ 100
Ranked #8,680 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #199 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #14 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
82%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
35.7%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.66 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Housing-cost burden
46.2%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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, ZIP 28403, one of several in Wilmington, North Carolina ranks in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,680th) and the top 25% of North Carolina (199th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: mental-health providers lies in the top 1.9% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 4.4% nationally. Outpatient lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and lead in tap water registers at the national minimum. Recreation sits in the top 5.3% nationally. Against that, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled pfas is in the top 1.5% nationally, and homeownership stands in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 5.1% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 28409, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Wilmington, NC 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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
“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 39.1; chronic-disease standing 90.0 (top 10%) — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,479 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
28401
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.62
Closest healthier
28409
North Carolinashares a border
Score 62.55
Similar health profile
27858
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 54.53
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 | 21.0% | 18.6–23.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.5% | 25.3–31.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 27.6% | 23.8–31.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.4% | 27.8–35.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.0% | 24.1–36.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.3–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 8.2–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.4% | 66.8–71.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.1–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.6% | 79.1–83.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 64.0–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.3% | 59.8–66.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 73.2–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.0–22.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–12.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.7% | 17.3–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.4% | 26.9–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 28.0–35.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 17.7–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.6–17.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.4–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 30.7–40.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 46.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 35.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 47.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 28.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $54,547 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $386,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,380 | $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