ZIP code
28694
in West Jefferson, North CarolinaPopulation 7,626
51.09/ 100
Ranked #14,703 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #346 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.26 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.6%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
14.6 mi
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
29 days/year
in the bottom 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS27thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
West Jefferson, North Carolina (ZIP 28694), in overall standing, comes out in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,703rd) and the top 44% of North Carolina (346th).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 4.7% nationally, elder services is in the top 5.5% nationally, and fiber broadband lies in the top 5.6% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover lies in the top 11.7% nationally, and dental providers registers in the top 16% nationally. Against that, modeled pfas is in the top 11.5% nationally, and hearing disability lies in the top 13.5% nationally. Unemployment registers in the top 16% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28626, 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 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
“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
28615
North Carolinashares a border
Score 44.50
Closest healthier
28626
North Carolinashares a border
Score 56.91
Similar health profile
28705
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 51.58
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 | 35.2% | 31.3–39.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 38.0–47.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 21.6–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 11.8–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.7% | 37.0–46.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 27.7–44.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.6% | 12.7–18.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.7% | 8.1–11.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 78.6–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.5–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.7–90.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 64.3–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.9% | 61.2–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.4–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.8–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 21.5–31.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 25.4–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.3% | 18.4–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.1–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.6% | 31.6–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.7% | 16.6–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.1–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.8–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 25.4–35.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 58.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 27.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 50.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $58,486 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $273,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $818 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 77.6, 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