ZIP code
28904
in Hayesville, North CarolinaPopulation 10,050
52.68/ 100
Ranked #12,524 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #279 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 35%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
82.2%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.3%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
11.2%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
12.4%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.0%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.33 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
43.3%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.9%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Hayesville, North Carolina (ZIP 28904) comes out in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,524th) and the top 35% of North Carolina (279th).
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 3.7% nationally, tree cover stands in the top 4.1% nationally, and pfas lands in the bottom 5.5% nationally. Modeled arsenic is in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Modeled extreme heat resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 9.2% nationally, and pharmacy lies in the top 11.5% nationally. Set against that, modeled hearing disability sits in the top 8.0% nationally, and coronary heart disease settles in the top 9.7% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the top 9.4% nationally.
In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. 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 30582, 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 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
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 93.6 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 14.2 — 79 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #519 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
28734
North Carolinashares a border
Score 50.55
Closest healthier
30582
Georgiashares a border
Score 57.21
Similar health profile
22967
Virginia97% similar profile
Score 51.93
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 | 36.7% | 32.7–40.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.6% | 39.9–49.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.8% | 11.6–14.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.0–28.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.3% | 38.4–48.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 27.6–44.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 14.6–21.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.0–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.1% | 80.2–85.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.2% | 80.0–86.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.8% | 89.4–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 66.9–76.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.3% | 60.5–67.9 |
| 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 | 12.4% | 10.0–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 21.0–30.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.8% | 24.2–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 17.4–23.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.1% | 31.3–41.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.0% | 15.9–22.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.3–13.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.9–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 24.2–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.8% | 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 | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 72.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 33.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 56.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $56,480 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $284,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $700 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 77.8, 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