ZIP code
27591
in Wendell, North CarolinaPopulation 29,838
57.10/ 100
Ranked #7,186 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #157 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #31 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
0.86%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
57.2%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
268 units
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Wendell, North Carolina (ZIP 27591) stands in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,186th) and the top 20% of North Carolina (157th).
Several of the strongest readings define how this area looks: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden lands in the bottom 14.8% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 16% nationally, and hearing disability rests in the bottom 18% nationally. Poverty lands in the bottom 21% nationally, park land settles in the top 23% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other hand, modeled nitrate lands in the top 6.7% nationally, pfas settles in the top 9.2% nationally, and humid heat rests in the top 22% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. ZIP 27527, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $85,224 predicts 79.4 years — 2.6 years below.
Ranked #3,545 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
27527
North Carolinashares a border
Score 61.24
Closest healthier
27587
North Carolinashares a border
Score 65.19
Similar health profile
27516
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 65.17
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 | 24.1% | 21.9–26.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 32.2–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.4–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 21.6–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 31.8–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.4% | 29.2–37.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.2% | 11.2–15.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.8% | 72.0–77.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 77.1–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.6–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.2% | 61.5–68.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.5% | 62.8–68.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 72.6–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.1% | 19.4–25.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 30.3–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 26.2–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 20.0–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 29.4–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 42.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $85,224 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $312,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,341 | $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 ± 0.71 | 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 0.71 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