ZIP code
28759
in Mills River, North CarolinaPopulation 7,555
60.23/ 100
Ranked #4,683 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.7%)
Ranked #96 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 12.2%)
Ranked #6 of 29 Asheville, NC ZIPs (top 21%)
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
1.2%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
2.5%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.8%
in the bottom 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.3%
in the bottom 11.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.8%
in the bottom 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
6.8%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Obesity
28.9%
in the bottom 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
Mills River, North Carolina (ZIP 28759), overall, ranks in the top 14.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,683rd) and the top 12.2% of North Carolina (96th).
This area's strengths are easy to pick out across the measures: modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 7.1% nationally, poverty resides in the bottom 8.1% nationally, and modeled loneliness settles in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the bottom 10.9% nationally, and energy burden lies in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Modeled transportation stands in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 11.4% nationally.
Defined simply, 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. ZIP 28791, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall. This area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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
28704
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.12
Closest healthier
28791
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.47
Similar health profile
27012
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 60.49
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 | 30.0% | 26.4–33.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.2% | 32.0–40.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 20.5–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.2–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.4–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.9% | 22.7–35.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.8% | 5.5–8.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.2–9.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 76.5–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.0–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 88.9–91.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 65.9–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.9% | 68.6–74.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 72.5–85.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 9.4–14.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.8% | 16.0–24.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 25.4–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.0% | 13.4–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.4–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 25.0–33.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.0–15.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.6% | 15.5–22.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.2–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.3–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.3% | 23.7–33.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.2% | 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 | 7.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 57.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 23.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 46.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $107,609 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $444,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,551 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 80.9, 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