ZIP code
28741
in Highlands, North CarolinaPopulation 4,257
60.14/ 100
Ranked #4,753 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.9%)
Ranked #99 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 12.5%)
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.
Recreation access
2.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Tree cover
89.5%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.1% 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 ›Loneliness
26.9%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.54 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.9%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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
By the composite measure, Highlands, North Carolina (ZIP 28741) sits in the top 14.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,753rd) and the top 12.5% of North Carolina (99th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: recreation rests in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled tree cover sits in the top 1.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 2.1% nationally. Modeled loneliness lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, housing insecurity resides in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and short sleep lies in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Pharmacy settles in the top 4.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening is in the top 3.2% nationally, and utility shutoff rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 28717, just across the boundary, ranks 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 99%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
“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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 98.6 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 22.1 — 77 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #677 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
28717
North Carolinashares a border
Score 66.71
Closest healthier
28774
North Carolinaabout 1.4 mi away
Score 65.09
Similar health profile
29575
South Carolina97% similar profile
Score 58.53
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 | 37.1% | 32.9–40.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.8% | 39.9–49.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 19.3–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.6–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.4% | 39.4–49.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.6% | 23.9–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 6.7–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.5–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.2% | 81.4–86.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.8% | 81.9–87.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.3% | 91.0–93.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.9% | 70.6–78.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.9% | 66.6–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 74.3–86.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.7% | 9.5–14.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–12.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.9% | 18.3–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.0% | 22.4–34.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.0–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.2–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.4% | 29.4–38.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 14.4–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.2% | 14.5–20.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.1–10.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.3–8.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.9% | 22.7–31.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 34.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.3% | 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 | 5.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 86.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 44.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 63.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $70,392 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $631,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $836 | $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 | 81.8 yr ± 1.25 | 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 1.25 years of 81.8, 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