ZIP code
28587
in Vandemere, North CarolinaPopulation 209
39.69/ 100
Ranked #26,956 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #714 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 10.0%)
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
78.1%
in the top 1.2% 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 ›Tooth loss
28.6%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
17.7%
in the top 2.2% 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 ›Stroke
6.1%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
49.5%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
22.1 mi
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
9.2%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
29.2%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.9%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Vandemere, North Carolina (ZIP 28587) ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (26,956th) and the bottom 10.0% of North Carolina (714th).
A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: floodplain exposure is in the top 1.2% nationally, and modeled tooth loss registers in the top 4.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled stroke is in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure registers in the top 3.9% nationally, distance to an emergency room lies in the top 4.3% nationally, and poverty is in the top 7.4% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled expected annual loss registers in the bottom 6.0% nationally, pfas lies in the bottom 7.2% nationally, and binge drinking is in the bottom 6.3% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 28515, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
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
28515
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.21
Closest healthier
28556
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.23
Similar health profile
31077
Georgia99% similar profile
Score 41.88
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% | 31.0–38.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 49.5% | 44.7–54.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 18.5–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.0% | 15.5–20.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 34.2–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.1% | 32.5–50.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 28.6% | 24.0–33.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 9.2–14.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.2% | 78.7–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.7% | 79.6–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.3% | 86.2–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.3% | 58.9–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.5% | 46.7–54.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 69.5–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.9% | 9.6–14.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 14.4–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.5% | 26.0–37.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.8% | 32.0–46.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.6% | 22.5–30.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.6–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.7–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.7% | 35.2–46.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.7–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.2% | 19.0–25.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.9% | 22.9–31.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.0% | 18.2–26.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.0% | 16.2–24.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 13.7–19.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 28.7–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.0–13.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.5% | 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 | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 32.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 57.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $35,833 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $108,100 | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 74.4, 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