ZIP code
28645
in Lenoir, North CarolinaPopulation 45,997
45.33/ 100
Ranked #22,063 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #568 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #21 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
615 units
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
76.3%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0.00013 ppb
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US9thDefinition & 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 top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Lenoir, North Carolina (ZIP 28645) stands in the bottom 31% nationally (22,063rd) and the bottom 28% of North Carolina (568th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 3.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover is in the top 6.4% nationally, and lead in tap water registers in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic is in the bottom 11.9% nationally, and mental-health providers registers in the top 12.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled disaster risk is in the top 11.3% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 12.5% nationally.
For clarity, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 28605, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.1 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $51,650 predicts 77.5 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,300 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.1 ± 0.8 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.6 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,013 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28605
North Carolinashares a border
Score 61.11
Closest healthier
28606
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.30
Similar health profile
27030
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 42.72
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 | 31.8% | 28.4–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.1% | 36.8–45.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 22.8–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.2% | 34.8–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 26.8–42.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.9% | 15.7–22.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.5–14.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.7–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.7–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.8–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.0% | 59.9–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.2% | 53.5–60.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 68.6–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.6–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 15.9–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.5–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 26.5–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 21.3–27.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 33.1–42.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–20.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.4–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 15.6–20.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–18.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.1–14.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 27.4–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 53.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 22.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 46.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $51,650 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $175,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $733 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 0.42 | 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 0.42 years of 75.1, 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