ZIP code
28461
in Boiling Spring Lakes, North CarolinaPopulation 23,762
60.04/ 100
Ranked #4,838 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 15%)
Ranked #104 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 13.2%)
Ranked #10 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Colon-cancer screening
78.3%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
26.4%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.0%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.1%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full 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 ›Lack of transportation
4.7%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
64.1%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
7.8%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.7%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina (ZIP 28461) comes out in the top 15% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,838th) and the top 13.2% of North Carolina (104th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled colon screening rests in the top 0.6% nationally, loneliness lies in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and housing insecurity sits in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff settles in the bottom 4.4% nationally, lead in tap water registers at the national minimum, and modeled transportation stands in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled food insecurity is in the bottom 6.6% nationally. By contrast, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and pfas rests in the top 6.4% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28449, 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 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
“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 83.7; chronic-disease standing 23.4 — 60 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,704 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
28422
North Carolinashares a border
Score 51.55
Closest healthier
28449
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.24
Similar health profile
28512
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 61.81
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 | 38.5% | 34.2–43.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.4% | 38.6–48.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 14.4% | 13.1–15.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.1–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.8% | 39.9–49.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.1% | 24.5–38.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.1–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.5–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 85.0% | 82.0–87.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 86.2% | 83.5–88.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.3% | 92.2–94.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 78.3% | 74.0–82.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.0% | 69.7–76.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 74.1–86.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.7% | 9.5–14.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.9% | 8.9–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.8% | 16.8–25.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 24.5–36.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 13.9–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 27.7–36.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.3–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 16.9% | 14.1–20.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.5–9.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 4.9–7.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.0–7.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.4% | 22.0–31.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.2% | 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 | 3.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 77.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 42.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 62.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $82,692 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $428,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,352 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 78.2, 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