ZIP code
28778
in Swannanoa, North CarolinaPopulation 13,536
55.02/ 100
Ranked #9,423 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #216 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #18 of 29 Asheville, NC ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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
71.5%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
77%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.2%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Transit access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Swannanoa, North Carolina (ZIP 28778), on the composite measure, lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,423rd) and the top 27% of North Carolina (216th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: lead in tap water lands at the national minimum, modeled tree cover resides in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers stands in the top 11.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Transit rests in the top 16% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum, and modeled pfas registers in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the top 15% nationally.
In everyday language, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 28709, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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
28709
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.23
Closest healthier
28711
North Carolinashares a border
Score 60.12
Similar health profile
99218
Washington96% similar profile
Score 54.93
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 | 27.4% | 24.4–30.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 32.0–39.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 25.6% | 22.1–29.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 31.3–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.6% | 25.4–38.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.0% | 12.4–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.7–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.8–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.6–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.3–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 61.7–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.7% | 61.4–68.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.1–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.7–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.0–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.0% | 18.3–26.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.2% | 24.4–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 15.9–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 28.4–37.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.4–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.7–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 27.1–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 47.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $73,408 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $303,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $994 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 77.6, 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