ZIP code
27517
in Chapel Hill, North CarolinaPopulation 29,564
68.44/ 100
Ranked #903 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.9%)
Ranked #15 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 1.9%)
Ranked #1 of 27 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ZIPs (top 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.
Short sleep
26.9%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.0%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.9%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.5%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.5%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.2%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
82.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.8%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$128,683
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 its overall health score, ZIP 27517, one of several in Chapel Hill, North Carolina lands in the top 2.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (903rd) and the top 1.9% of North Carolina (15th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and housing insecurity resides in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and food insecurity registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Modeled transportation sits in the bottom 3.8% nationally, loneliness rests in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and energy burden is in the bottom 1.9% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the top 3.8% nationally, modeled cognitive disability settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and household income lies in the top 7.3% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 27523, just across the boundary. On a broader view, the area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.2 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $128,683 predicts 81.1 years — 2.1 years above.
Ranked #873 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 83.2 ± 1.5 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.8 years — 3.4 years above them.
Ranked #601 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
27312
North Carolinashares a border
Score 64.28
Closest healthier
27523
North Carolinashares a border
Score 70.25
Similar health profile
23692
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 63.25
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 | 26.7% | 24.6–28.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.7% | 31.2–36.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.7–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 19.6–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 34.1–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.0% | 23.1–30.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.8–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.7–9.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.5–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 80.0–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.2% | 90.1–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.5% | 70.3–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.7% | 72.5–76.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.1% | 77.7–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–18.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 26.9% | 23.6–30.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.1% | 11.1–13.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.0% | 22.7–27.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.5% | 24.6–30.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 74.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.4% | 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 | 14.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 57.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 24.7% | 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 | $128,683 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $608,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,638 | $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 | 83.2 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 83.2, 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