ZIP code
28735
in Gerton, North CarolinaPopulation 124
54.86/ 100
Ranked #9,615 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #226 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #19 of 29 Asheville, NC ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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
87.9%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
50.6%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.7%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
73%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.2%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.33%
in the bottom 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
1.3%
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.3 pCi/L
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS76thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, Gerton, North Carolina (ZIP 28735) comes out in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,615th) and the top 28% of North Carolina (226th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled tree cover stands in the top 1.9% nationally, homeownership lands at the national maximum, and fiber broadband is in the top 7.2% nationally. Unemployment resides at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness lies in the bottom 8.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise settles at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. By contrast, housing-cost burden registers in the top 2.9% nationally, and home broadband subscription stands in the bottom 8.1% nationally.
In plain terms, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28730, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
28730
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.97
Closest healthier
28711
North Carolinaabout 1.5 mi away
Score 60.12
Similar health profile
28785
North Carolina96% similar profile
Score 53.46
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 | 33.4% | 29.5–37.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 36.3–45.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.3% | 21.4–29.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.1–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.3–45.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 24.9–39.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.3–11.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.1–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.1–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.6–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.4–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.6% | 66.8–75.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 63.7–70.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 70.6–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.0–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 11.1–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 18.4–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 26.9–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.7% | 15.9–23.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 11.9–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 11.9–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 28.7–39.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 13.3–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.5–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.7% | 15.3–22.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 8.8–14.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 7.4–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.8–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.2% | 23.3–33.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.1–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 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 | 73.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 50.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 100.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 45.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 64.5 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 | $398,900 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 1.16 | 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 1.16 years of 78.2, 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