ZIP code
27021
in King, North CarolinaPopulation 17,106
52.19/ 100
Ranked #13,204 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #300 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #13 of 39 Winston-Salem, NC 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.
Subsidized affordable housing
334 units
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, King, North Carolina (ZIP 27021) ranks in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,204th) and the top 38% of North Carolina (300th).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 7.3% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pharmacy is in the top 15.0% nationally, modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 16% nationally, and modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 15% nationally. Grocery lies in the top 17% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 17% nationally. Working the other way, distance to an emergency room lands in the top 16% nationally, lead in tap water registers in the top 19% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the top 20% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 27043, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Winston-Salem, NC metro area.
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 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.8 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $63,552 predicts 78.3 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,797 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27016
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.55
Closest healthier
27043
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.48
Similar health profile
24066
Virginia95% similar profile
Score 50.88
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 | 32.5% | 28.9–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.3% | 35.0–43.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 22.6–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 35.1–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.9% | 28.1–44.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.3% | 13.3–19.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.9% | 7.5–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.3–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.3–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.3% | 86.7–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.2–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 60.9–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 69.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 11.9–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 13.0–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.7% | 20.6–29.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 25.0–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.3% | 29.9–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.3–23.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.9% | 26.9–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 52.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 22.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 43.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $63,552 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $219,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $851 | $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 | 76.8 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 76.8, 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