ZIP code
28579
in Smyrna, North CarolinaPopulation 331
52.60/ 100
Ranked #12,633 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #285 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
74.6%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
23.4%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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
21.3 mi
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
69.9%
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 9.8% 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
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & 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 insecurity
7.4%
in the bottom 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
12.8 mi
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & 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
Overall, Smyrna, North Carolina (ZIP 28579) lands in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,633rd) and the top 36% of North Carolina (285th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands in the top 4.3% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the bottom 9.8% nationally, and radon settles in the bottom 2.1% nationally. On the other side, floodplain exposure resides in the top 1.4% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 1.7% nationally, and home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 6.1% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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 nearby comparison, ZIP 28520, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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
28520
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.41
Similar health profile
75480
Texas97% similar profile
Score 49.69
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 | 33.1% | 29.4–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.1% | 36.6–45.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.6–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.6–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 35.7–45.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.4% | 26.1–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.1–15.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 5.8–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 78.4–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 78.7–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.9% | 88.1–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 64.5–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.8% | 62.1–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.5% | 67.5–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.1–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.2% | 10.8–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 18.2–27.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 25.7–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.2–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.8–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.6% | 28.8–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 13.4–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.6–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.1–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 24.7–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.2–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 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 | 69.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 62.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 42.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 62.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $64,519 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $506,600 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 77.1, 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