ZIP code
28445
in Surf City, North CarolinaPopulation 10,797
60.32/ 100
Ranked #4,621 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.5%)
Ranked #94 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 11.9%)
Ranked #1 of 11 Jacksonville, NC ZIPs (top 9.1%)
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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & 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
33.8%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
3.4%
in the bottom 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
13.9%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.9%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.9%
in the bottom 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
10.4%
in the bottom 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
Surf City, North Carolina (ZIP 28445), on the composite measure, lands in the top 14.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,621st) and the top 11.9% of North Carolina (94th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: lead in tap water resides at the national minimum, grocery lies in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled radon settles in the bottom 4.2% nationally. Poverty stands in the bottom 11.4% nationally, modeled fair or poor health is in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and modeled diabetes rests in the bottom 8.2% nationally. Modeled food insecurity sits in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and mobility disability registers in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 7.6% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 8.4% nationally.
In everyday language, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 28411, about 3.9 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Jacksonville, 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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.2 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $84,016 predicts 79.4 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #3,030 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28443
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.13
Closest healthier
28411
North Carolinaabout 3.9 mi away
Score 62.68
Similar health profile
55025
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 59.21
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 | 25.1% | 22.7–27.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.7% | 28.8–35.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 8.0–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.8–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.5% | 30.3–36.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 26.8–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.6–9.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.2–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.8% | 72.2–77.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.0–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.8–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.8% | 67.1–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.3% | 66.6–72.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 74.2–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–13.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.0% | 14.4–20.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.0% | 28.5–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.2% | 24.0–30.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.1% | 16.4–21.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.3–7.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.6–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 60.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $84,016 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $386,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,151 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 77.2, 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