ZIP code
27292
in Lexington, North CarolinaPopulation 40,311
46.16/ 100
Ranked #21,157 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #534 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #28 of 39 Winston-Salem, NC ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
480 units
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
60.1%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 27292, one of several in Lexington, North Carolina lands in the bottom 34% nationally (21,157th) and the bottom 33% of North Carolina (534th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: lead in tap water is at the national minimum, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled pfas stands in the top 7.9% nationally, expected annual loss lies in the top 11.5% nationally, and disaster risk lands in the top 11.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 17% nationally.
A note on the terms: 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 27295, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 74.1 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $57,264 predicts 77.9 years — 3.8 years below.
Ranked #4,925 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.1 ± 1.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.7 years — 2.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,070 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27239
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.83
Closest healthier
27295
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.23
Similar health profile
28090
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 45.78
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 | 31.3% | 27.9–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 36.3–44.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 22.3–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.7–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 30.7–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.6% | 15.4–22.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 10.9–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 75.9–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.1–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 84.7–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 61.4–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.0% | 55.2–62.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 68.9–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.0–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 24.6–33.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 28.0–40.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.5% | 20.8–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.0% | 32.8–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 19.9–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 27.1–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 49.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $57,264 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $211,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $848 | $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 | 74.1 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 74.1, 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