ZIP code
28909
in Warne, North CarolinaPopulation 1,002
49.39/ 100
Ranked #17,102 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #417 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & 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
10.9%
in the top 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
54.2 mi
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
93.1%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.2%
in the bottom 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
10.8 mi
in the top 12.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.56%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
42%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
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
Warne, North Carolina (ZIP 28909), overall, ranks in the bottom 47% nationally (17,102nd) and the bottom 47% of North Carolina (417th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and arsenic registers in the bottom 5.3% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site is in the top 10.6% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Homeownership lands in the top 11.5% nationally, and modeled pfas lies in the bottom 11.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands in the top 12.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled hearing disability rests in the top 10.1% nationally.
Defined simply, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. ZIP 28904, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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 ›
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 96.4 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 14.4 — 82 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #405 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
28902
North Carolinashares a border
Score 43.64
Closest healthier
28904
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.68
Similar health profile
98303
Washington97% similar profile
Score 49.65
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 | 36.1% | 32.0–40.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.8% | 39.0–48.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.1–12.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.2% | 22.2–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.3–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.0% | 37.2–46.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 28.4–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 15.1–21.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.3–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.9% | 79.0–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.1% | 78.6–85.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.1–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.8% | 65.5–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 60.8–68.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 67.6–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 10.6–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 13.2–19.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.4% | 21.5–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 25.3–39.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.3% | 18.1–24.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.4–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 31.9–42.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.0–21.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.8% | 16.5–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.3–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.1–14.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.6–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 24.9–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.5–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 54.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.1% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 76.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 21.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 39.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $80,875 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $285,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 1.37 | 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 1.37 years of 79.8, 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