ZIP code
28601
in Hickory, North CarolinaPopulation 53,329
53.54/ 100
Ranked #11,313 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #257 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #5 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
521 units
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
70.1%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 28601, one of several in Hickory, North Carolina comes out in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,313th) and the top 32% of North Carolina (257th).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 4.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 13.0% nationally. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 13.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled pfas is in the top 4.5% nationally, disaster risk resides in the top 6.1% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 10.9% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, 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. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28671, about 4.3 miles away.
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area.
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 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
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 77.0 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $67,817 predicts 78.5 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,885 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
28602
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.69
Closest healthier
28671
North Carolinaabout 4.3 mi away
Score 55.16
Similar health profile
15203
Pennsylvania94% similar profile
Score 56.53
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 | 28.5% | 25.7–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 33.0–40.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 22.4–29.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.8–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 29.8–42.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 10.0–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.5–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.2–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.3–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.3–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 61.2–67.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 71.7–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.2% | 20.0–26.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.7% | 25.5–35.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 16.6–20.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.1% | 28.5–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.6–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.8–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 28.2–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 54.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $67,817 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $261,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,029 | $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 | 77.0 yr ± 0.42 | 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 0.42 years of 77.0, 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