ZIP code
28646
in Linville, North CarolinaPopulation 382
53.71/ 100
Ranked #11,076 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #255 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 32%)
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.
Unemployment rate
24.5%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
83.8%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.52%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
69.9%
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.8%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
16.8 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.0%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
Linville, North Carolina (ZIP 28646), by its composite score, sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,076th) and the top 32% of North Carolina (255th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: homeownership is at the national maximum, and modeled tree cover lands in the top 3.5% nationally. Poverty stands in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Modeled loneliness settles in the bottom 6.4% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 6.7% nationally, and modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 8.8% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. On the other side, unemployment resides in the top 1.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription is in the bottom 6.1% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 28604, 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 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.2%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
“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
28604
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.75
Closest healthier
28605
North Carolinashares a border
Score 61.11
Similar health profile
28751
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 54.71
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 | 36.9% | 32.9–40.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.8% | 39.1–48.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.2–11.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 20.6–28.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.9% | 38.1–47.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.8% | 27.5–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.7% | 7.7–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 6.6–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.0% | 80.3–85.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.4% | 80.3–86.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.5% | 89.1–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.8% | 66.4–76.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 59.1–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 68.6–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.3–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.9% | 10.5–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 19.5–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 23.5–36.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.7% | 16.7–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 30.6–40.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.0–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.7–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.1% | 14.9–21.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.6–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 6.9–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.4–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.8% | 23.0–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.6–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 24.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 69.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 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 | 13.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 97.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 27.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 59.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $76,736 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $371,300 | $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 | 84.5 yr ± 2.43 | 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 2.43 years of 84.5, 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