ZIP code
28409
in Wilmington, North CarolinaPopulation 36,163
62.55/ 100
Ranked #3,200 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 10.0%)
Ranked #67 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 8.5%)
Ranked #5 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (top 18%)
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 1.3% 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
78.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
48%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Food insecurity
7.4%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
4.8%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Park land
23.7%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.7%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.0%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 28409, one of several in Wilmington, North Carolina, on the composite measure, lands in the top 10.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,200th) and the top 8.5% of North Carolina (67th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled food insecurity lies in the bottom 5.0% nationally, housing insecurity settles in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and transportation stands in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Park land is in the top 5.9% nationally, and modeled mammography rests in the top 4.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk sits in the top 1.3% nationally, and pfas registers in the top 2.2% nationally. Floodplain exposure lands in the top 4.3% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 5.8% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 7.3% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 28480, 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 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.1 ± 1.2 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.0 years — 4.1 years above them.
Ranked #324 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28403
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.65
Closest healthier
28480
North Carolinashares a border
Score 69.95
Similar health profile
23696
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 60.95
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 | 27.7% | 24.5–31.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 30.1–37.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.3–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 34.4–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.9% | 23.0–35.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 6.7–10.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.5–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.1–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.0% | 77.9–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.7% | 89.5–91.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 65.9–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.4% | 70.3–76.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.7% | 75.1–87.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 14.9–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.6% | 14.5–21.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.7% | 24.5–35.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.8% | 23.2–30.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.2% | 15.3–21.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.1–8.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 24.9–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 53.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 43.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $111,048 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $422,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,405 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 81.1, 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