ZIP code
27577
in Smithfield, North CarolinaPopulation 28,354
45.94/ 100
Ranked #21,417 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #546 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #45 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (bottom 6.3%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.0%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Smithfield, North Carolina (ZIP 27577) lands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,417th) and the bottom 31% of North Carolina (546th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: mental-health providers stands in the top 4.2% nationally, lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and elder services registers in the top 9.3% nationally. Physicians resides in the top 10.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing is in the top 11.5% nationally, and outpatient sits in the top 11.6% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 12.1% nationally, and radon lies in the bottom 6.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 10.2% nationally.
Put simply, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. On the overall standing, ZIP 27520, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
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 76.9 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $62,758 predicts 78.2 years — 1.3 years below.
Ranked #1,661 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
27520
North Carolinashares a border
Score 57.30
Closest healthier
27524
North Carolinashares a border
Score 49.72
Similar health profile
73141
Oklahoma95% similar profile
Score 38.16
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 | 28.9% | 25.7–32.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.6% | 35.5–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.7–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 32.7–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 30.2–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.3% | 17.6–25.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.0% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.8–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.1–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.6–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 59.2–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 54.0–61.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 70.5–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.2–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.7–33.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.6% | 29.4–41.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.4–27.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 33.7–42.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.6–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.9% | 18.3–23.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–18.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.0% | 28.2–38.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.9% | 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+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 51.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 41.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $62,758 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $260,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $837 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 76.9, 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