ZIP code
28666
in Icard, North CarolinaPopulation 273
42.55/ 100
Ranked #24,769 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #648 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #23 of 24 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ZIPs (bottom 4.2%)
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.
Poverty rate
78.8%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
52%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
17.8%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Icard, North Carolina (ZIP 28666), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 23% nationally (24,769th) and the bottom 18% of North Carolina (648th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: poverty rests in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and crowded housing sits in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum. On the brighter side, housing-cost burden registers at the national minimum, and modeled disaster risk stands in the bottom 2.4% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss lands in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and homeownership is at the national maximum. Home broadband subscription resides at the national maximum, and floodplain exposure rests at the national minimum.
Held up against its neighbors, poverty runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 28602, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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
28602
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.69
Closest healthier
28612
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.28
Similar health profile
95560
California98% similar profile
Score 33.32
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 | 30.3% | 26.4–33.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 34.4–43.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 9.7–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.2% | 7.8–12.7 |
| Depression among adults | 27.3% | 22.9–31.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 32.7–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 31.5–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 3.7–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 15.9–23.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.8% | 13.3–23.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 74.4–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.2–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 82.3–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.0% | 46.9–57.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 55.9–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 69.2–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 10.6–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.2% | 14.2–24.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.5% | 26.5–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.0% | 28.4–42.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.0% | 21.7–33.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 15.9–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 13.7–19.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.2% | 15.6–23.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.6% | 33.3–46.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 8.8–13.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.1% | 15.2–23.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.5–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 19.4–28.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.1% | 17.3–29.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 13.4–25.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 12.6–20.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 8.9–14.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 28.3–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.2–13.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 78.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 67.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 33.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 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) | 17.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 17.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 27.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | — | $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 | 73.1 yr ± 1.32 | 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 1.32 years of 73.1, 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