ZIP code
28723
in Cullowhee, North CarolinaPopulation 12,756
50.89/ 100
Ranked #15,009 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #360 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
High cholesterol
25.9%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
87.6%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
23.7%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40.5%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.6%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.0%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
36.5%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.2%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
70.9%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.4%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Cullowhee, North Carolina (ZIP 28723) comes out in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,009th) and the top 45% of North Carolina (360th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 1.5% nationally, tree cover settles in the top 2.1% nationally, and high blood pressure registers in the bottom 2.2% nationally. Modeled diabetes stands in the bottom 2.4% nationally, stroke lands in the bottom 3.5% nationally, and coronary heart disease is in the bottom 5.1% nationally. By contrast, modeled loneliness resides in the top 3.4% nationally, and cognitive disability rests in the top 4.6% nationally. Homeownership lies in the bottom 4.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 6.6% nationally.
The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28707, just across the boundary. Modeled loneliness sits in the top 3.4% 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.6%
8%
“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
28707
North Carolinashares a border
Score 59.79
Closest healthier
28716
North Carolinashares a border
Score 51.02
Similar health profile
49401
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 49.59
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 | 16.7% | 14.7–18.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 23.7% | 20.6–26.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 31.6% | 26.8–36.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 25.9% | 22.6–29.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.7% | 23.7–38.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.2% | 14.9–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 7.9–14.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 62.6% | 60.2–64.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.7% | 69.0–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 74.3% | 69.4–78.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 62.5–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.3% | 54.2–62.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 70.4–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.0–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.3% | 8.9–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.2% | 16.7–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 26.2–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.0–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 23.4% | 19.2–27.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 9.5–13.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.6% | 16.9–26.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.2% | 29.1–41.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 8.2–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 17.8–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 12.7–23.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 9.6–18.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.0–14.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.1–15.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.5% | 34.6–46.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.2–9.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 70.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 36.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 61.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 12.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 22.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $45,568 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $347,900 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 79.2, 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