ZIP code
27817
in Chocowinity, North CarolinaPopulation 7,834
49.77/ 100
Ranked #16,548 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #402 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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.
Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.7 mi
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Chocowinity, North Carolina (ZIP 27817) lands in the bottom 48% nationally (16,548th) and the bottom 49% of North Carolina (402nd).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: lead in tap water sits at the national minimum, and modeled radon rests in the bottom 4.5% nationally. Modeled binge drinking is in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and colon screening stands in the top 17% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 6.3% nationally, modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 11.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room resides in the top 13.1% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the top 17% nationally, modeled pfas registers in the top 17% nationally, and poverty sits in the top 19% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 27814, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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
3 of our published findings list 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 74.4 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $77,017 predicts 79.0 years — 4.6 years below.
Ranked #5,387 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.1 years — 2.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,096 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 85.6; chronic-disease standing 19.1 — 67 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,296 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27814
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.22
Closest healthier
27837
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.98
Similar health profile
27944
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 48.70
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 | 35.3% | 31.5–39.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.2% | 40.8–49.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.5–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.7% | 37.2–46.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.0% | 28.7–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.2–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.7–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.9% | 79.3–84.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.0% | 80.0–86.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.3–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 65.6–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 59.0–66.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 70.5–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.8% | 10.5–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.5–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 22.6–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 26.3–38.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 18.9–24.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.5% | 32.1–41.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.3–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.4–18.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 26.6–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.1% | 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 | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 62.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 27.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 49.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $77,017 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $173,300 | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 74.4, 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