ZIP code
28628
in Glen Alpine, North CarolinaPopulation 60
41.68/ 100
Ranked #25,504 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #680 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 14.3%)
Ranked #24 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (bottom 4.2%)
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.
Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
77.8%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
16.4%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›The read
Glen Alpine, North Carolina (ZIP 28628), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 20% nationally (25,504th) and the bottom 14.3% of North Carolina (680th).
The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: modeled pfas registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and transportation noise stands in the top 3.6% nationally. More positively, housing-cost burden lands at the national minimum, poverty is at the national minimum, and modeled disaster risk resides in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Home broadband subscription rests at the national maximum, and floodplain exposure lies at the national minimum. Lead in tap water sits at the national minimum, and modeled expected annual loss settles in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 6.2% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 28655, 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. 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
28655
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.84
Closest healthier
28761
North Carolinaabout 2.9 mi away
Score 47.86
Similar health profile
19310
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 44.03
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 | 32.8% | 29.0–36.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 35.8–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 8.7–13.0 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 24.3–32.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 12.8–17.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 33.6–42.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 31.4–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.8% | 20.3–29.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.7% | 9.1–17.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 74.9–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.0–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 83.4–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.7% | 51.3–62.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 58.1–65.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 71.1–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.5–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.3% | 14.8–24.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.5% | 25.4–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.5% | 28.0–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.3% | 20.9–30.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.0–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.0–22.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.5% | 32.5–45.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.1–13.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 18.7–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 15.0–24.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.3% | 12.9–22.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 11.1–17.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.0–12.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 27.6–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 7.9–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 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+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 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 | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.0% | 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 | 100.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 10.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 50.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $74,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | — | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 1.87 | 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 1.87 years of 78.8, 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