ZIP code
27587
in Wake Forest, North CarolinaPopulation 82,886
65.19/ 100
Ranked #1,923 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.0%)
Ranked #38 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 4.8%)
Ranked #19 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
501 units
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$133,743
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
13.1%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.5%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.7%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.9%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.9%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.3%
in the bottom 11.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
96.7%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Park land
9.6%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
Wake Forest, North Carolina (ZIP 27587), by its composite score, sits in the top 6.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,923rd) and the top 4.8% of North Carolina (38th).
Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 4.5% nationally, and household income lies in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and food insecurity resides in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Modeled independent living disability is in the bottom 6.8% nationally, coronary heart disease lands in the bottom 8.7% nationally, and mobility disability stands in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Modeled transportation registers in the bottom 11.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the top 11.3% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas sits in the top 11.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 27571, 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 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 54%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 93%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.0 years. The 41 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.2 years — 2.2 years above them.
Ranked #1,278 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
27522
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.03
Closest healthier
27571
North Carolinashares a border
Score 67.43
Similar health profile
28104
North Carolina100% similar profile
Score 64.34
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 | 23.7% | 21.3–26.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.0% | 29.9–36.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 21.3–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.2–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.4% | 25.3–33.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 7.0–10.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.6–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.5% | 72.4–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 78.3–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.5% | 89.2–91.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 63.7–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.5% | 69.9–75.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.2% | 73.5–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 13.0–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 26.9–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 13.0–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–26.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 26.5–33.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.5% | 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 | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 50.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $133,743 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $497,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,544 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.53 | 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 0.53 years of 81.4, 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