ZIP code
28712
in Brevard, North CarolinaPopulation 19,977
57.14/ 100
Ranked #7,137 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #155 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 20%)
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
0.80%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
77%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.48 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3 pCi/L
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% 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 ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
72.6%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.69 per 1,000 residents
in the top 14.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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
Brevard, North Carolina (ZIP 28712), overall, ranks in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,137th) and the top 20% of North Carolina (155th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 0.3% nationally, modeled tree cover resides in the top 6.1% nationally, and outpatient settles in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled short sleep is in the bottom 8.8% nationally, physicians sits in the top 9.1% nationally, and elder services lands in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers stands in the top 10.2% nationally. On the other side, modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 6.1% nationally, and radon registers in the top 10.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. ZIP 28718, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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 87%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
28708
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.67
Closest healthier
28718
North Carolinashares a border
Score 57.21
Similar health profile
04843
Maine98% similar profile
Score 59.80
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 | 34.3% | 30.6–38.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 37.4–46.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.4% | 11.3–13.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.5–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 35.9–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.9% | 25.3–41.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 10.8–16.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.7–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.2% | 80.1–86.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 88.7–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 67.7–77.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.6% | 65.1–72.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 72.1–85.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 10.6–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.0% | 18.2–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 23.4–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.5% | 29.3–38.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.5% | 15.5–21.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.9–9.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.0% | 24.0–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 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 | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 65.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 32.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 53.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $63,045 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $414,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,021 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.46 | 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 0.46 years of 78.6, 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