ZIP code
27344
in Siler City, North CarolinaPopulation 19,198
41.31/ 100
Ranked #25,805 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #690 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 13.0%)
Ranked #27 of 27 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ZIPs (bottom 3.8%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
21.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full 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 ›Tooth loss
24.3%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
27.9%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.4%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
13.7%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.4%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
19.9%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Siler City, North Carolina (ZIP 27344) ranks in the bottom 20% nationally (25,805th) and the bottom 13.0% of North Carolina (690th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: lead in tap water lands at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled uninsured is in the top 3.8% nationally, vision disability settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and self-care disability resides in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled tooth loss registers in the top 8.3% nationally, food insecurity rests in the top 7.9% nationally, and fair or poor health stands in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled transportation lies in the top 8.6% nationally, and independent living disability lands in the top 9.3% nationally.
To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Close by, ZIP 27207, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.4 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $57,320 predicts 77.9 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,262 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 73.4; chronic-disease standing 18.0 — 55 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,084 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27207
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.01
Closest healthier
27208
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.68
Similar health profile
35121
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 45.47
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 | 31.5% | 28.0–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.5% | 38.1–46.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 20.6–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.1% | 15.0–19.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 34.1–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 29.8–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.9–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.3% | 20.5–28.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 21.1% | 18.5–23.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.2–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.0–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.0–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.8% | 56.4–67.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.3% | 47.6–55.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 67.8–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 10.7–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 16.5–21.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.5% | 29.7–39.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.1% | 27.7–41.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.4% | 26.2–32.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.6% | 17.5–21.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.1% | 36.6–45.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.5–24.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.8% | 9.0–10.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.1–28.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.9% | 24.8–31.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.7% | 21.8–27.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.5–22.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.2–15.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 27.2–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 31.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 42.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 17.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 39.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $57,320 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $184,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,056 | $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 ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 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