ZIP code
28528
in Gloucester, North CarolinaPopulation 407
50.70/ 100
Ranked #15,268 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #368 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Outer-floodplain exposure
36.5%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
22.2 mi
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
45%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
96%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
40.1%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
3.4%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
11.5 mi
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
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
Gloucester, North Carolina (ZIP 28528), by its composite score, sits in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,268th) and the top 46% of North Carolina (368th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 3.9% nationally, and homeownership lies in the top 7.4% nationally. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and radon lands in the bottom 1.9% nationally. Pulling the other way, outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 1.2% nationally, and floodplain exposure registers in the top 5.0% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 10.0% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 28516, 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.
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 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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
28516
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.26
Closest healthier
28579
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.60
Similar health profile
27916
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 52.32
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 | 32.9% | 29.0–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 35.8–45.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.3–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 21.6–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.5–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 35.6–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 28.2–44.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.4–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.2% | 16.5–24.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 5.9–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 76.4–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.0% | 77.5–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.3–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 63.2–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.0% | 57.0–64.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.8% | 67.8–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.8–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 12.3–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.1% | 18.3–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 28.0–41.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 15.6–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.7–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 27.5–37.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.0–18.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.6% | 16.2–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.5–13.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 6.9–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 6.8–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.1% | 24.2–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.0–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 40.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 96.0% | 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 | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 75.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 45.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 64.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $353,800 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 1.51 | 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 1.51 years of 76.9, 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