ZIP code
28709
in Barnardsville, North CarolinaPopulation 2,260
58.23/ 100
Ranked #6,207 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #132 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #12 of 29 Asheville, NC ZIPs (top 41%)
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.
Tree cover
89.6%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28.7%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.1 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
3.1%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
1.7%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Barnardsville, North Carolina (ZIP 28709) sits in the top 19% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,207th) and the top 17% of North Carolina (132nd).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled tree cover sits in the top 1.5% nationally, and short sleep stands in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Poverty stands in the bottom 10.0% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, walkability resides in the bottom 7.8% nationally, and modeled disaster risk sits in the top 10.2% nationally.
Put plainly, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 28711, 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 Asheville, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
28711
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.12
Closest healthier
28787
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.74
Similar health profile
95446
California97% similar profile
Score 58.98
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 | 27.8% | 24.7–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 31.8–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.1–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 21.9–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 9.0–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.1% | 32.1–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.8% | 24.8–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.9% | 8.1–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 6.7–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.6–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.4–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 85.8–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.4% | 64.9–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.5% | 63.3–69.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 71.0–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.5–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 11.2–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.4% | 16.3–24.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.7% | 24.0–33.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 14.0–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.8–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 10.9–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.2–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 26.5–35.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.0–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 2.9–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 17.7–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.5–13.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.5–10.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 6.9–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 25.9–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 47.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.3% | 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 | 76.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 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 | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 79.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 39.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 58.2 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 | $433,300 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 1.98 | 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 1.98 years of 77.1, 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