ZIP code
28636
in Hiddenite, North CarolinaPopulation 4,496
45.66/ 100
Ranked #21,699 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #557 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #20 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Hiddenite, North Carolina (ZIP 28636) places in the bottom 32% nationally (21,699th) and the bottom 30% of North Carolina (557th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 13.2% nationally, and civic stands in the top 17% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 19% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits in the bottom 22% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 5.4% nationally. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians resides at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Home broadband subscription is in the bottom 21% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the top 22% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 28625, 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 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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
28625
North Carolinashares a border
Score 51.65
Closest healthier
28678
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.23
Similar health profile
38571
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 39.55
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 | 32.2% | 28.7–36.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 36.3–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 22.8–30.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 34.6–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.1% | 30.0–47.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.3% | 15.9–23.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.4% | 9.6–13.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 75.7–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.1–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.0–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.7% | 57.2–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.2% | 54.3–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.1% | 67.4–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.2% | 15.7–21.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 23.7–33.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 28.1–41.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.5% | 33.0–42.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.1–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 13.8–19.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 27.4–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 63.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 43.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $65,435 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $225,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $761 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 77.7, 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