ZIP code
28448
in Kelly, North CarolinaPopulation 767
44.57/ 100
Ranked #22,844 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #592 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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
56.1%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
26.8%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.6 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
12.2%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 1.7% 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 ›Binge drinking
12.5%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
12.3%
in the bottom 13.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
8.5 mi
in the top 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Kelly, North Carolina (ZIP 28448) lands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,844th) and the bottom 25% of North Carolina (592nd).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: lithium in drinking water lies in the bottom 1.2% nationally, modeled radon stands in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 13.0% nationally. On the other side, floodplain exposure resides in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled tooth loss settles in the top 5.4% nationally. Walkability is in the bottom 5.3% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 6.2% nationally. Lead in tap water lands in the top 10.7% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 10.8% nationally.
Put simply, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. On the overall standing, ZIP 28444, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
28337
North Carolinashares a border
Score 40.36
Closest healthier
28444
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.80
Similar health profile
75163
Texas98% similar profile
Score 41.06
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 | 31.9% | 28.3–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.6% | 41.3–49.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.8–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.5–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 32.3–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 26.8% | 22.2–31.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 8.9–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 78.9–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.8–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.0% | 87.5–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 62.2–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.1% | 50.0–58.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 69.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.5% | 10.2–15.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.6–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 24.2–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.6% | 31.7–45.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 19.8–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.7% | 32.2–41.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.1–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 20.8–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 15.6–21.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 13.5–18.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.9% | 28.7–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 48.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 2.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 13.6% | 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 | 30.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $53,378 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $132,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.3 yr ± 2.01 | 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 2.01 years of 77.3, 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