ZIP code
28430
in Cerro Gordo, North CarolinaPopulation 1,573
43.79/ 100
Ranked #23,623 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #619 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
Pharmacy access
0.66 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Child-care access
0.66 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
15.5 mi
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
6.2%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
10.4 mi
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
116.5 days/year
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.55%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
85.7%
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Cerro Gordo, North Carolina (ZIP 28430) comes out in the bottom 26% nationally (23,623rd) and the bottom 22% of North Carolina (619th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: pharmacy lands in the top 2.7% nationally, childcare is in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 7.6% nationally, modeled radon lies in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 16% nationally. Set against that, crowded housing settles in the top 10.2% nationally, and distance to a nursing home registers in the top 10.3% nationally. Fatal road crashes stands in the top 11.9% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the top 15% nationally.
In plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28432, about 0.4 miles away.
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 96%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
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 96.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 17.9 — 78 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #582 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
28431
North Carolinashares a border
Score 37.32
Closest healthier
28432
North Carolinaabout 0.4 mi away
Score 43.88
Similar health profile
27884
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 44.23
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 | 33.2% | 29.6–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.5% | 39.2–48.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.2–12.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.4% | 22.7–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.1–44.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.1% | 32.4–48.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.0% | 16.4–24.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 8.8–13.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.0–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 76.8–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 84.5–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 62.1–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.0% | 55.0–62.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 69.0–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.2–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.9% | 15.9–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 25.0–35.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.0% | 28.6–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.3% | 21.0–28.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.2–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.2% | 33.5–43.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.1% | 16.5–22.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–8.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 18.9–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 15.1–22.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 14.0–20.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.2–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.5–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 44.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $68,356 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $180,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $638 | $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 | 73.8 yr ± 1.71 | 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 1.71 years of 73.8, 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