ZIP code
28785
in Waynesville, North CarolinaPopulation 8,311
53.46/ 100
Ranked #11,429 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #259 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 33%)
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
88.3%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.2%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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 ›The read
ZIP 28785, one of several in Waynesville, North Carolina, by its overall standing, sits in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,429th) and the top 33% of North Carolina (259th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled tree cover rests in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 10.5% nationally, and colon screening settles in the top 9.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room stands in the bottom 17% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the bottom 17% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk is in the top 12.1% nationally, and hearing disability resides in the top 13.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 16% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 28721, 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 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28719
North Carolinashares a border
Score 35.14
Closest healthier
28721
North Carolinashares a border
Score 56.97
Similar health profile
48653
Michigan97% similar profile
Score 53.05
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 | 35.1% | 31.2–39.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 38.1–47.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–11.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.9% | 22.2–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.8% | 37.1–46.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 26.0–41.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.0–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.2–10.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.1% | 79.4–84.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 78.6–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.7–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.2% | 67.2–76.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 63.6–70.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 70.5–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 10.9–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 11.6–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 20.3–29.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 24.0–36.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.0% | 17.1–23.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 31.7–41.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 14.9–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.3% | 16.2–22.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.5–13.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.6–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 25.0–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.3% | 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 | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 68.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 27.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 48.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $61,769 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $310,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,105 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 78.5, 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