ZIP code
28635
in Hays, North CarolinaPopulation 2,669
46.23/ 100
Ranked #21,061 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #531 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
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 ›Tree cover
77.3%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
12.8%
in the bottom 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$44,901
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
Hays, North Carolina (ZIP 28635), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 34% nationally (21,061st) and the bottom 33% of North Carolina (531st).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: lead in tap water lies at the national minimum, and modeled tree cover registers in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden lies in the bottom 13.8% nationally. Crowded housing registers at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure is at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation noise lies in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other hand, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 3.1% nationally, and household income is in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Childcare lies at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs.
Set within its surrounding area, industrial-pollution burden 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28644, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
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
28644
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.72
Closest healthier
28627
North Carolinaabout 1.7 mi away
Score 46.72
Similar health profile
28708
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 45.67
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 | 32.0% | 28.3–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 35.2–44.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 27.5% | 23.6–31.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 35.2–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 29.4–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.2% | 15.2–21.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.2–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 74.9–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 75.9–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.5–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.6% | 57.5–67.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.0% | 51.2–58.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 65.6–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.3–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.1–20.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 21.9–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 27.6–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 18.5–24.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 14.7–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 31.2–40.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 14.7–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.1–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 11.8–17.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.7–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.2–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.6% | 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 | 3.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 68.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 25.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 56.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $44,901 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $145,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 77.6, 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