ZIP code
28719
in Cherokee, North CarolinaPopulation 6,786
35.14/ 100
Ranked #29,331 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.6%)
Ranked #759 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 4.3%)
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
96.2%
in the top 0.07% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
30.8%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
17.6%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
31.4%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
22.4%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
15.4%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.63 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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
On balance, and by the composite measure, Cherokee, North Carolina (ZIP 28719) ranks in the bottom 8.6% nationally (29,331st) and the bottom 4.3% of North Carolina (759th).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: modeled tooth loss rests in the top 2.7% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled vision disability stands in the top 5.3% nationally, and transportation settles in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lies in the top 6.1% nationally, food insecurity resides in the top 5.2% nationally, and housing insecurity lands in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff registers in the top 6.5% nationally. On the stronger side, modeled tree cover sits in the top 0.07% nationally, and childcare rests in the top 6.6% nationally.
For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 28702, just across the boundary. Modeled vision disability rests in the top 5.3% nationally.
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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 1%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
3 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 73.9 ± 2.2 years. A median household income of $60,658 predicts 78.1 years — 4.2 years below.
Ranked #5,172 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.9 ± 2.2 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.9 years — 3.0 years below them.
Ranked #2,397 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 90.1 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 16.8 — 73 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #857 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28702
North Carolinashares a border
Score 50.65
Closest healthier
28713
North Carolinashares a border
Score 46.77
Similar health profile
35974
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 38.97
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 | 28.4% | 25.9–31.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 35.9–42.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.8–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 27.2% | 24.1–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.0% | 15.3–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 31.8–38.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.9% | 36.7–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 30.8% | 27.3–34.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.9% | 11.9–16.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 71.0–75.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.9–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.7–84.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.0% | 55.9–64.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.7% | 44.8–50.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 64.6–77.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 25.1% | 22.2–28.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 27.0–35.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.4% | 35.0–45.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.4% | 26.4–32.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.4% | 20.3–24.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.8–24.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.6% | 40.6–48.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.9% | 18.7–23.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.4% | 26.1–32.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.4% | 27.8–34.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.5% | 21.2–27.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.4% | 19.8–25.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.3% | 34.0–42.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 52.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 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+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 38.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $60,658 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $188,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $892 | $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 | 73.9 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 73.9, 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