ZIP code
28731
in Flat Rock, North CarolinaPopulation 8,672
50.92/ 100
Ranked #14,963 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #357 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #26 of 29 Asheville, NC ZIPs (bottom 10.4%)
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
1.0%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.2 mi
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
66%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Binge drinking
11.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.3%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.91 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
28.8%
in the bottom 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
42.7%
in the top 12.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Park land
4.9%
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Flat Rock, North Carolina (ZIP 28731) lands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,963rd) and the top 45% of North Carolina (357th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Dental providers lies in the top 8.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and elder services is in the top 13.5% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 4.2% nationally, modeled pfas resides in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled hearing disability registers in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease rests in the top 10.5% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 28739, just across the boundary, ranks better 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. 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 76.3 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $66,309 predicts 78.5 years — 2.1 years below.
Ranked #2,852 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28726
North Carolinashares a border
Score 44.14
Closest healthier
28739
North Carolinashares a border
Score 59.07
Similar health profile
28906
North Carolina95% similar profile
Score 50.52
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 | 35.8% | 32.2–39.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.9% | 38.5–47.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.3% | 11.1–13.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.8–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 38.1–47.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.5% | 24.8–38.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.6% | 12.9–18.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.4% | 10.7–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.7% | 80.0–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.6–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.5% | 88.0–90.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.0% | 65.3–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 59.6–66.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 72.1–84.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.8% | 9.6–14.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 22.6–31.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 26.5–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 19.9–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 32.9–41.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.1% | 16.8–21.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.3% | 16.2–22.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.3–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.6–14.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.6–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.8% | 24.0–33.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 70.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 34.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 54.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $66,309 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $402,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,005 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 76.3, 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