ZIP code
27518
in Cary, North CarolinaPopulation 19,735
68.89/ 100
Ranked #790 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.5%)
Ranked #12 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 1.6%)
Ranked #9 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (top 19%)
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.
Dental provider access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Physician access
5.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Housing insecurity
5.8%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
6.6%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.3%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.8%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.2%
in the bottom 2.0% 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 ›Fair or poor health
11.5%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 27518, one of several in Cary, North Carolina, by its composite score, sits in the top 2.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (790th) and the top 1.6% of North Carolina (12th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: dental providers is in the top 1.0% nationally, and physicians lands in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and food insecurity registers in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 2.6% nationally, modeled utility shutoff sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and grocery lies in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled short sleep rests in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and energy burden resides in the bottom 2.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.
Next to the surrounding area, physicians runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 27502, just across the boundary. The area further 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 Raleigh-Cary, 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
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
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 16.5; chronic-disease standing 89.1 — 73 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,623 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
27502
North Carolinashares a border
Score 69.69
Closest healthier
27523
North Carolinaabout 1.2 mi away
Score 70.25
Similar health profile
28207
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 72.78
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 | 23.6% | 20.9–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.2–35.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 33.3–40.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.2% | 22.1–30.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.9% | 4.7–7.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.7–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.6% | 78.8–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.1% | 89.7–92.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.2% | 68.3–76.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 75.0% | 72.4–77.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 73.3–84.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 15.1% | 12.7–17.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.4% | 24.7–32.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.5% | 10.0–13.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.1–25.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.4% | 14.9–20.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.5–7.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.6–5.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 25.1–32.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 71.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 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 | 64.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 23.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 46.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $123,488 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $632,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,681 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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