ZIP code
28501
in Kinston, North CarolinaPopulation 17,642
32.40/ 100
Ranked #30,204 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)
Ranked #778 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 1.9%)
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.
Self-care disability
9.3%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Stroke
7.1%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
15.0%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
21.2%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
26.4%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
51.5%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
33.4%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.3%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
19.4%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 28501, one of several in Kinston, North Carolina, overall, ranks in the bottom 5.9% nationally (30,204th) and the bottom 1.9% of North Carolina (778th).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: modeled self-care disability lies in the top 1.2% nationally, stroke stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and vision disability rests in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the top 2.6% nationally, diabetes resides in the top 2.3% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the top 2.2% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 2.9% nationally. On the better side, modeled binge drinking lies in the bottom 1.7% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. ZIP 28504, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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 87%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 1%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
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
3 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 73.4 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $35,118 predicts 75.9 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,442 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.4 ± 1.4 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.4 years — 3.9 years below them.
Ranked #2,993 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 87.6; chronic-disease standing 2.9 (bottom 10%) — 85 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #293 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
28504
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.53
Closest healthier
28526
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.21
Similar health profile
36756
Alabama100% similar profile
Score 34.10
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 | 34.8% | 31.3–38.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.5% | 47.1–55.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–14.0 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 19.8–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 21.2% | 18.8–23.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.9–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.2% | 38.0–54.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 7.1% | 6.6–7.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 27.2% | 23.1–31.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.9% | 12.9–17.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 79.2–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 80.7–86.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.8–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 59.9–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.7% | 45.9–53.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 71.4–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.3% | 8.4–12.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 22.0% | 19.4–25.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.7% | 33.7–44.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.2% | 36.4–50.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.4% | 30.2–37.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.4–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.4–20.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.6% | 18.5–23.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.2% | 40.6–50.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.6–16.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 26.4% | 23.8–29.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.8–12.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.3% | 24.5–32.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 34.5% | 31.2–37.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 35.7% | 32.6–39.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.7% | 22.1–27.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 30.5–41.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 39.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 42.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $35,118 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $79,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $799 | $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 | 73.4 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 73.4, 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