ZIP code
27603
in Raleigh, North CarolinaPopulation 53,972
60.04/ 100
Ranked #4,836 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 15%)
Ranked #103 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 13.0%)
Ranked #26 of 48 Raleigh-Cary, NC ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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
576 units
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
64.6%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.5%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
31.9%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
5.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
10.1%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.6%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Transit access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Diabetes
9.1%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 27603, one of several in Raleigh, North Carolina ranks in the top 15% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,836th) and the top 13.0% of North Carolina (103rd).
Several of the strongest readings define how this area looks: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and energy burden settles in the bottom 7.7% nationally. Modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 10.0% nationally, mobility disability lands in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and stroke settles in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Transit rests in the top 11.9% nationally, and grocery lands in the top 12.1% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas settles in the top 6.2% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 27526, 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 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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
“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
27526
North Carolinashares a border
Score 61.81
Closest healthier
27539
North Carolinashares a border
Score 68.57
Similar health profile
27510
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 65.50
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 | 20.2% | 18.0–22.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 27.9–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 22.2–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.9% | 28.9–35.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.0% | 26.7–35.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.6–14.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.8–11.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.7% | 67.7–73.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.9–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.9–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 62.3–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.6% | 62.6–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.8–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.6–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 29.0–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.6% | 23.7–29.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.5–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 29.4–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 52.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 13.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 35.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $90,484 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $383,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,547 | $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 | 79.7 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 79.7, 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