ZIP code
28779
in Sylva, North CarolinaPopulation 18,064
51.72/ 100
Ranked #13,810 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #320 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 40%)
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
83.2%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.9 mi
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.72 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
1.8%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS17thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Sylva, North Carolina (ZIP 28779) comes out in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,810th) and the top 40% of North Carolina (320th).
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: modeled tree cover settles in the top 3.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Physicians stands in the top 6.3% nationally, and grocery lands in the top 8.6% nationally. Mental-health providers is in the top 8.8% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 5.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 6.8% nationally.
In plain terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 28707, 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.
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 73%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
“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
28707
North Carolinashares a border
Score 59.79
Closest healthier
28751
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.71
Similar health profile
22827
Virginia97% similar profile
Score 49.99
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 | 31.1% | 27.7–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.0–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 22.9–31.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 33.9–42.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.8% | 28.2–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.5–17.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.6–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.3–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.3–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.2–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 62.5–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.9% | 58.2–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 70.4–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.0–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.9–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 21.1–30.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 26.0–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 17.5–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.1–40.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 17.4–23.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 27.6–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 62.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $57,727 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $243,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $827 | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 0.64 | 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 0.64 years of 77.5, 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