ZIP code
28472
in Whiteville, North CarolinaPopulation 16,780
45.01/ 100
Ranked #22,398 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #581 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Physician access
2.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.23 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
407 units
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.46 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Whiteville, North Carolina (ZIP 28472) lands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,398th) and the bottom 27% of North Carolina (581st).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: physicians registers in the top 3.9% nationally, and childcare rests in the top 4.5% nationally. Pharmacy stands in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Grocery lands in the top 5.7% nationally, subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 5.8% nationally, and elder services is in the top 8.5% nationally. Outpatient settles in the top 9.1% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 9.2% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk registers in the top 7.2% nationally.
A note on the 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 28320, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 95%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 75.1 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $42,003 predicts 76.7 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,964 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 94.7 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 17.6 — 77 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #649 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
28320
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.95
Closest healthier
28420
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.31
Similar health profile
35576
Alabama98% similar profile
Score 45.06
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 | 32.3% | 28.9–35.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.1% | 40.7–49.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.5–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.5–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.0% | 33.0–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.3% | 18.5–26.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 10.0–13.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 76.0–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 78.1–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.8–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 59.2–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.0% | 51.1–58.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.1% | 70.8–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.8% | 10.3–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–20.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.3% | 25.9–35.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.0% | 31.3–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.3% | 21.5–27.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.7–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.7% | 33.3–42.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.1% | 16.9–21.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.2–28.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 18.0–23.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.8% | 16.6–21.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.7–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 42.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $42,003 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $151,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $845 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 75.1, 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