ZIP code
27524
in Four Oaks, North CarolinaPopulation 13,999
49.72/ 100
Ranked #16,635 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #409 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #40 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.2 µg/L
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to an emergency room
14.7 mi
in the top 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›The read
Four Oaks, North Carolina (ZIP 27524) ranks in the bottom 48% nationally (16,635th) and the bottom 48% of North Carolina (409th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled radon settles in the bottom 5.3% nationally, pharmacy rests in the top 13.9% nationally, and modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 16% nationally. By contrast, distance to an emergency room settles in the top 11.8% nationally, floodplain exposure rests in the top 16% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 17% nationally. Home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 18% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water rests in the top 19% nationally.
For context, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 27504, just across the boundary.
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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
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 75.4 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $75,827 predicts 79.0 years — 3.6 years below.
Ranked #4,784 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 75.4 ± 0.9 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.4 years — 2.0 years below them.
Ranked #1,571 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
27504
North Carolinashares a border
Score 51.40
Closest healthier
27520
North Carolinashares a border
Score 57.30
Similar health profile
29526
South Carolina95% similar profile
Score 50.41
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 | 28.4% | 25.2–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 32.8–40.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 21.9–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 32.6–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 28.5–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 15.0–21.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 11.1–14.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 73.8–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.7–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.2–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.5–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.6% | 55.8–63.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 68.8–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.2–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 13.7–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 21.8–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 28.4–40.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 18.4–23.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.2% | 31.0–39.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.3–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.0–18.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 27.5–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 24.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 46.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $75,827 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $212,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $991 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 0.46 | 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 0.46 years of 75.4, 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