ZIP code
28504
in Kinston, North CarolinaPopulation 20,407
42.53/ 100
Ranked #24,797 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #649 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Transportation noise
36.8%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.9%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
289 units
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
89.8%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFOS in drinking water
89.8%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Stroke
5.4%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
12.3%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.1%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Unemployment rate
9.4%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 28504, one of several in Kinston, North Carolina ranks in the bottom 23% nationally (24,797th) and the bottom 18% of North Carolina (649th).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled transportation noise lands in the top 0.9% nationally, and loud transportation noise sits in the top 2.3% nationally. PFOA in drinking water is in the top 8.7% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water settles in the top 9.0% nationally. Modeled stroke resides in the top 8.9% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 11.0% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 11.0% nationally. On the brighter side, subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 8.5% nationally, modeled binge drinking lies in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and modeled radon lands in the bottom 3.4% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Close by, ZIP 28525, just across the boundary, ranks 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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 76.1 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $53,583 predicts 77.6 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,817 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
28501
North Carolinashares a border
Score 32.40
Closest healthier
28525
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.38
Similar health profile
36303
Alabama98% similar profile
Score 42.99
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 | 33.5% | 29.8–37.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.5% | 40.9–50.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 20.7–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 34.9–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 31.9–48.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–5.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.1% | 17.5–25.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.5–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 78.0–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.4% | 79.2–85.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 85.9–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.0–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.8% | 52.9–60.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 72.3–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 10.0–15.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.6–20.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.5% | 26.7–36.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 31.6–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.1% | 23.1–29.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.0% | 35.2–44.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.9% | 18.5–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 20.8–28.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 18.9–24.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.1% | 17.6–22.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.0% | 28.0–38.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 49.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $53,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $143,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $940 | $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 | 76.1 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 76.1, 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