ZIP code
28422
in Bolivia, North CarolinaPopulation 10,059
51.55/ 100
Ranked #14,056 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #327 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #17 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
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 ›Floodplain exposure
37.5%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
Bolivia, North Carolina (ZIP 28422), by its composite score, sits in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,056th) and the top 41% of North Carolina (327th).
The clearest bright points in the data come first here: lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled colon screening sits in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled mammography lies in the top 5.8% nationally, and radon rests in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking is in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. By contrast, floodplain exposure stands in the top 7.0% nationally, PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 12.8% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water settles in the top 13.3% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 28451, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
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
2 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 75.7 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $69,412 predicts 78.6 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,097 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 97.3 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 20.8 — 77 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #677 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
28420
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.31
Closest healthier
28451
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.52
Similar health profile
28531
North Carolina95% similar profile
Score 51.69
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 | 36.1% | 32.2–40.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.4% | 38.9–48.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 20.5–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.9% | 37.3–46.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 28.3–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 7.9–12.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 8.1–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.6% | 79.8–85.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 80.7–86.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.6–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.7% | 69.0–77.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.8% | 60.0–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 74.5–86.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.3–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.8–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 21.0–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 29.0–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.2–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.2% | 31.4–40.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.2% | 15.6–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.5% | 17.4–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.9–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.2–14.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 25.1–34.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 62.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 28.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 52.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $69,412 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $295,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,564 | $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 | 75.7 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 75.7, 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