ZIP code
28428
in Carolina Beach, North CarolinaPopulation 7,136
57.95/ 100
Ranked #6,440 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #138 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #12 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Grocery access
0.58 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
59.6%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.6%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
67.9%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
98.1%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.7 ppb
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US92ndDefinition & 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 ›Park land
14.5%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
Carolina Beach, North Carolina (ZIP 28428), in overall standing, comes out in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,440th) and the top 17% of North Carolina (138th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: grocery stands in the top 1.1% nationally, mental-health providers resides in the top 6.9% nationally, and modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands in the top 7.2% nationally, park land resides in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 8.8% nationally. Against that, floodplain exposure stands in the top 2.6% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled pfas sits in the top 5.0% nationally, and lead in tap water stands in the top 8.3% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The closest healthier ZIP overall is 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28409
North Carolinashares a border
Score 62.55
Closest healthier
28449
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.24
Similar health profile
72135
Arkansas98% similar profile
Score 56.52
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 | 32.0% | 28.4–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 34.4–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.2–28.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.9% | 37.5–46.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 25.5–38.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.4% | 5.1–8.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.2–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 75.9–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.0–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.1% | 89.7–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.8% | 67.3–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.0% | 67.8–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 72.4–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.6–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.1–15.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.6% | 16.8–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 24.6–35.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.9% | 25.8–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.9% | 15.0–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.1–11.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 5.8–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.9–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.6–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 24.1–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 98.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 68.6% | 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 | 53.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $93,241 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $572,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,505 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 1.81 | 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 1.81 years of 78.1, 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