ZIP code
27244
in Elon, North CarolinaPopulation 16,329
57.66/ 100
Ranked #6,678 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #141 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 18%)
Too few scored ZIPs in the Burlington, NC metro area to rank within it.
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.
High cholesterol
28.9%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
26.7%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.9%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.9%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
10.1%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.6%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
36.8%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
2.8%
in the bottom 12.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Elon, North Carolina (ZIP 27244) sits in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,678th) and the top 18% of North Carolina (141st).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 2.5% nationally, high blood pressure lands in the bottom 4.4% nationally, and diabetes resides in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 8.7% nationally, mobility disability settles in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and stroke stands in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Lead in tap water is in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and modeled radon rests in the bottom 11.5% nationally. Working the other way, modeled pfas sits in the top 13.0% nationally, and loneliness registers in the top 13.3% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. ZIP 27377, about 0.6 miles away, ranks 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Burlington, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
“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
27215
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.38
Closest healthier
27377
North Carolinaabout 0.6 mi away
Score 57.99
Similar health profile
27858
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 54.53
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 | 20.9% | 18.6–23.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.7% | 23.7–29.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 27.7% | 23.7–31.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–8.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 28.9% | 25.6–32.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.9% | 24.7–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.6–13.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.7–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.4% | 70.2–74.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 73.1–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.8% | 78.8–84.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.1% | 64.9–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.0% | 63.8–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.1% | 73.2–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.0–20.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.1% | 8.6–11.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.6% | 15.4–22.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 26.3–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 16.9–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 14.4–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 25.8–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 17.9–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 9.7–14.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.6–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 31.9–42.1 |
| 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 | 14.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.8% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 49.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 12.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 23.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $75,323 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $278,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $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 | 79.4 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 79.4, 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