ZIP code
27826
in Fairfield, North CarolinaPopulation 821
42.17/ 100
Ranked #25,064 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #660 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
74%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
27.1 mi
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
26.8 mi
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
9.7%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.8%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
9.5%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0.00066 ppb
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
US10thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.23%
in the bottom 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Fairfield, North Carolina (ZIP 27826) sits in the bottom 22% nationally (25,064th) and the bottom 17% of North Carolina (660th).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: floodplain exposure lies in the top 1.5% nationally, distance to a nursing home settles in the top 1.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 2.6% nationally. Walkability is in the bottom 3.8% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 3.9% nationally, and crowded housing sits in the top 5.8% nationally. Better still, housing-cost burden registers at the national minimum. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas lies in the bottom 7.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 27810, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 98%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27810
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.88
Closest healthier
27885
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.56
Similar health profile
71851
Arkansas97% similar profile
Score 42.19
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 | 27.7% | 24.6–31.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.7% | 40.3–49.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.2–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 34.7–51.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.5% | 18.0–25.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 10.5–15.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 72.5–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.3–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 83.8–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.6–67.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 49.5–57.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 68.8–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.6–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.4% | 17.4–23.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 24.3–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 32.9–46.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.8% | 21.6–28.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.5–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.5% | 32.0–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.1–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.3% | 24.4–32.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.4% | 19.0–26.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 16.7–23.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.4–21.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 28.4–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.2–15.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 84.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 11.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 45.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 79.1, 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