ZIP code
28659
in North Wilkesboro, North CarolinaPopulation 21,422
44.95/ 100
Ranked #22,459 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #583 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.58 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina (ZIP 28659) sits in the bottom 30% nationally (22,459th) and the bottom 26% of North Carolina (583rd).
A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 2.3% nationally. On the stronger side, mental-health providers settles in the top 2.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lands at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient settles in the top 5.8% nationally, and elder services lands in the top 7.4% nationally. Physicians rests in the top 9.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 14.0% nationally, and pharmacy rests in the top 14.7% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 28635, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
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
27020
North Carolinashares a border
Score 38.39
Closest healthier
28635
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.23
Similar health profile
28655
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 45.84
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 | 31.9% | 28.4–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.5–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 22.9–30.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.9–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 30.2–46.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 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 | 12.4% | 10.7–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 76.0–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 76.4–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.5–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 60.9–70.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.5% | 54.8–62.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.8% | 66.0–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.5–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 23.8–32.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 26.9–39.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.4% | 20.6–26.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.5–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 33.5–42.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| 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 | 22.9% | 19.6–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–20.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.1% | 13.1–17.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.8–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 22.8% | 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+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.4% | 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 | 68.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 48.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $50,280 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $159,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $708 | $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 | 76.1 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 76.1, 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