ZIP code
28621
in Elkin, North CarolinaPopulation 9,403
46.56/ 100
Ranked #20,695 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #519 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Outpatient-care access
0.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
278 units
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›The read
Elkin, North Carolina (ZIP 28621), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 35% nationally (20,695th) and the bottom 35% of North Carolina (519th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: outpatient stands in the top 3.9% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 4.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Pharmacy stands in the top 8.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 8.9% nationally. Dental providers sits in the top 10.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 12.4% nationally, and hearing disability stands in the top 14.4% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 27011, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
“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
27011
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.68
Closest healthier
27017
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.83
Similar health profile
28139
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 46.02
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 | 33.3% | 30.3–36.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.4% | 37.9–45.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.5–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 23.6–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.5% | 36.8–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 33.6–46.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.2% | 17.1–23.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.7% | 11.0–14.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.5–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 78.0–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.9–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.9% | 61.6–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.8% | 56.4–62.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 70.3–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.1% | 25.3–33.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.1% | 27.0–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.8% | 21.3–26.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.7–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.3–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.3% | 35.6–43.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
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 | 16.6% | 14.4–18.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 28.1–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.3% | 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 | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 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 | 57.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 43.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $53,616 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $159,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $783 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 76.7, 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