Avery County, NC

ZIP 28657

In ZIP 28657, 5 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Spruce Pine, Town Of meets every EPA legal limit; 8 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 162× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 0% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Hexion Inc - Morganton Facility (43%), mostly formaldehyde.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.4 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 8,701 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28657

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityA to F
• Pesticide useC to D
• Neighborhood health statusC to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsB to C
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsC to D

Based on 6 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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