ZIP code
27539
in Apex, North CarolinaPopulation 25,878
68.57/ 100
Ranked #865 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.7%)
Ranked #13 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 1.7%)
Ranked #10 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
Median household income
$145,947
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.0%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.0%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.1%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.7%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.8%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
11.3%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
66.6%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 27539, one of several in Apex, North Carolina stands in the top 2.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (865th) and the top 1.7% of North Carolina (13th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: household income settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Modeled food insecurity lands in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally, transportation lands in the bottom 5.1% nationally, and independent living disability settles in the bottom 1.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and energy burden lands in the bottom 3.2% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas settles in the top 5.4% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 27502, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby. Beyond the headline readings, 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 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 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 ›
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
27518
North Carolinashares a border
Score 68.89
Similar health profile
28173
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 65.96
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 | 20.6% | 18.2–23.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.4% | 26.3–32.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.6–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.2–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.7% | 23.4–32.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 2.0–2.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.0% | 5.6–8.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.8% | 69.4–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.0–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.1–91.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.9–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.0% | 70.3–75.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 72.2–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–9.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 26.4–34.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–12.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–23.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.0–5.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 25.9–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 64.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 9.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $145,947 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $565,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,885 | $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 | 81.3 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 81.3, 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