ZIP code
28655
in Morganton, North CarolinaPopulation 55,100
45.84/ 100
Ranked #21,508 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #549 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #18 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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
338 units
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
70.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & 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
By its overall health score, Morganton, North Carolina (ZIP 28655) lands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,508th) and the bottom 31% of North Carolina (549th).
The measures split the difference for this area: distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 7.2% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits in the top 8.9% nationally. Lead in tap water rests in the bottom 10.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 14.6% nationally. Against that, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 7.7% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 12.3% nationally. Modeled pfas lands in the top 13.5% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 28018, 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.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 26%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28018
North Carolinashares a border
Score 50.42
Closest healthier
28020
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.37
Similar health profile
28659
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 44.95
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 | 31.4% | 27.9–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.0% | 35.7–44.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 22.4–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.2–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 29.6–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.0% | 15.6–22.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 11.1–14.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.3–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.2–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.2–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 61.2–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.6% | 53.8–61.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 68.7–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.6–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.2–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.4–33.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 28.8–42.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.5% | 20.6–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.3% | 32.7–41.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 19.6–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 28.1–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 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 | 6.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 53.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $57,713 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $191,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $905 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.45 | 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 0.45 years of 77.4, 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