ZIP code
27557
in Middlesex, North CarolinaPopulation 8,657
47.84/ 100
Ranked #19,126 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #472 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #4 of 15 Rocky Mount, NC ZIPs (top 27%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.4%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Housing-cost burden
12.5%
in the bottom 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
10.5 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
Middlesex, North Carolina (ZIP 27557), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 40% nationally (19,126th) and the bottom 40% of North Carolina (472nd).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled arsenic is in the bottom 9.9% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 13.2% nationally. Modeled radon stands in the bottom 9.3% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled uninsured settles in the top 12.7% nationally, distance to a community health center sits in the top 19% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity lies in the top 19% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests in the top 20% nationally, modeled food insecurity resides in the top 22% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the top 22% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 27542, 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 Rocky Mount, 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 88%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.4 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $71,541 predicts 78.8 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,232 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27542
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.30
Closest healthier
27576
North Carolinashares a border
Score 47.94
Similar health profile
36792
Alabama93% similar profile
Score 45.29
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 | 28.7% | 26.2–31.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 35.3–41.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.9–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 34.1–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 31.1–42.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 17.0–22.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.5% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 75.0–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.1–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.7–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.9% | 60.0–67.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 56.3–62.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 71.5–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.3–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.7–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.6% | 25.0–32.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.6% | 30.0–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 20.9–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.3–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.6–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.3% | 32.7–39.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.9–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 29.7–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.0% | 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 | 8.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 48.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 11.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $71,541 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $199,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $845 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 76.4, 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