ZIP code
28540
in Jacksonville, North CarolinaPopulation 49,141
51.29/ 100
Ranked #14,427 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #338 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #6 of 11 Jacksonville, NC ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
465 units
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
31.1%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.8%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.2 mi
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
58.3%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
114.7 days/year
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 28540, one of several in Jacksonville, North Carolina stands in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,427th) and the top 43% of North Carolina (338th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 4.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and radon lies in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled disaster risk registers in the top 0.4% nationally, modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 4.0% nationally, and slow internet speeds is in the top 6.6% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 7.8% nationally, and modeled pfas lies in the top 8.7% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 28445, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 Jacksonville, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
“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 77.0 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $65,625 predicts 78.4 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,797 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
28445
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.32
Closest healthier
28546
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.49
Similar health profile
93555
California97% similar profile
Score 50.65
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 | 23.5% | 20.8–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.1% | 29.4–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.4–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.1% | 27.5–35.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 29.0–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 12.9–18.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 10.1–13.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.5% | 69.7–75.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.1–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.4–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.2% | 60.2–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.4% | 56.8–64.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 70.7–84.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.1–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.1% | 19.5–27.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.4% | 33.3–45.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.1–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.0–21.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.8% | 29.7–38.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 20.1–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.3–20.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 30.1–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.3% | 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 | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 45.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 11.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 30.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $65,625 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $223,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,091 | $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 ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 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