ZIP code
27855
in Murfreesboro, North CarolinaPopulation 5,783
44.35/ 100
Ranked #23,066 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #596 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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 ›Poverty rate
29.6%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Lack of transportation
13.8%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Loneliness
37.5%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
38.8%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
91.8%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$42,938
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
40.6%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Murfreesboro, North Carolina (ZIP 27855) comes out in the bottom 28% nationally (23,066th) and the bottom 25% of North Carolina (596th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: lead in tap water registers at the national minimum, modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and grocery lands in the top 9.6% nationally. Childcare is in the top 10.2% nationally. By contrast, poverty resides in the top 7.1% nationally, and modeled transportation rests in the top 8.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lies in the top 10.1% nationally, and loneliness sits in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled food insecurity settles in the top 10.6% nationally, and housing insecurity registers in the top 11.0% nationally.
In plain 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 27862, 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 61%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
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
2 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 74.3 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $42,938 predicts 76.7 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,401 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 74.3 ± 1.1 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.0 years — 2.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,183 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
27818
North Carolinashares a border
Score 30.61
Closest healthier
27862
North Carolinashares a border
Score 51.85
Similar health profile
29325
South Carolina96% similar profile
Score 45.19
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% | 24.8–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 37.5–45.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.0–27.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 30.7–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.3–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.9% | 18.3–25.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.2–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 75.6–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.6% | 78.2–84.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.3–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.1–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.8% | 49.9–57.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 71.7–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 10.2–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.1–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.5% | 25.0–34.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 33.7–47.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.5% | 21.6–27.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 16.9–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–20.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.3% | 33.6–43.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.8% | 24.0–31.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.4% | 22.0–29.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.8% | 19.7–25.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 16.2–21.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 32.2–42.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 20.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 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 | 5.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 36.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 34.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $42,938 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $99,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $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 | 74.3 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 74.3, 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