ZIP code
27278
in Hillsborough, North CarolinaPopulation 27,925
62.79/ 100
Ranked #3,085 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.7%)
Ranked #60 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 7.6%)
Ranked #7 of 27 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ZIPs (top 26%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
71.9%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
6.6%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Transit access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Median household income
$105,887
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Hillsborough, North Carolina (ZIP 27278) ranks in the top 9.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,085th) and the top 7.6% of North Carolina (60th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and energy burden registers in the bottom 8.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography stands in the top 10.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 13.8% nationally, modeled colon screening sits in the top 11.0% nationally, and modeled tree cover is in the top 14.8% nationally. Home broadband subscription settles in the top 14.8% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 15% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Close by, ZIP 27514, just across the boundary, 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 78.4 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $105,887 predicts 80.3 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,443 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
27231
North Carolinashares a border
Score 57.39
Closest healthier
27514
North Carolinashares a border
Score 63.04
Similar health profile
27455
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 64.15
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 | 27.6% | 24.5–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 31.2–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.5–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 32.7–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.0% | 24.9–37.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.4% | 7.6–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.2–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.4–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 77.7–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.6–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.9% | 67.5–75.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.1% | 68.0–74.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 73.7–85.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.3–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–23.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 25.0–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.9% | 24.3–31.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.7% | 17.0–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.0–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.6–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 55.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 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 | 8.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $105,887 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $414,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,297 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.41 | 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 0.41 years of 78.4, 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