ZIP code
28618
in Deep Gap, North CarolinaPopulation 2,208
57.41/ 100
Ranked #6,870 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #146 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 18%)
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.
Tree cover
80.3%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
15.4 mi
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
72.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
15.7%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS24thDefinition & 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 ›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, Deep Gap, North Carolina (ZIP 28618) lands in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,870th) and the top 18% of North Carolina (146th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: modeled tree cover registers in the top 4.8% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 11.0% nationally, short sleep lands in the bottom 11.5% nationally, and colon screening sits in the top 8.9% nationally. Modeled mammography is in the top 11.1% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk settles in the top 12.9% nationally, home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 14.4% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 17% nationally.
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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 28684, 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 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
28607
North Carolinashares a border
Score 50.95
Closest healthier
28684
North Carolinashares a border
Score 57.64
Similar health profile
24578
Virginia98% similar profile
Score 54.67
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 | 29.9% | 26.1–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.1% | 32.6–41.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.2–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 21.7–29.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.0–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 26.5–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.2% | 9.9–14.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 6.8–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.5–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.3–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.9% | 87.1–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 67.9–76.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.6% | 64.0–70.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 72.8–86.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.3–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 10.1–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.5% | 17.2–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.4% | 24.4–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.3–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.4–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.5–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.9% | 26.1–35.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.3–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.3–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.4–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.2–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.0–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 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+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 40.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 39.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $59,653 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $338,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,250 | $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 | 81.3 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 81.3, 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