ZIP code
27879
in Simpson, North CarolinaPopulation 307
57.34/ 100
Ranked #6,950 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #150 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #2 of 11 Greenville, NC ZIPs (top 18%)
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 ›Mammography
82.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
29.5%
in the top 7.2% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$32,500
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
96.8%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
110 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.95%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Simpson, North Carolina (ZIP 27879) places in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,950th) and the top 19% of North Carolina (150th).
The clearest bright points in the data come first here: lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled mammography sits in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening lies in the top 4.6% nationally, and fiber broadband rests in the top 8.4% nationally. Walkability resides in the top 8.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss is in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking stands in the bottom 12.2% nationally. By contrast, poverty registers in the top 7.2% nationally, and household income settles in the bottom 2.6% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 28590, about 3.8 miles away.
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 Greenville, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
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
27837
North Carolinashares a border
Score 54.98
Closest healthier
28590
North Carolinaabout 3.8 mi away
Score 58.79
Similar health profile
02666
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 63.05
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 | 31.8% | 28.3–35.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 37.7–46.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.6–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.6–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.2–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 32.0–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.5% | 14.4–20.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 5.9–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.0% | 80.4–85.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.5% | 80.4–86.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.2% | 89.4–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 69.5–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.6% | 64.1–71.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.1% | 75.8–87.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.8% | 10.4–15.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 8.8–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.5% | 19.0–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 28.5–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.9% | 14.7–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.5–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.6–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.0% | 26.4–35.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 13.4–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.1–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 10.0–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 7.8–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.9–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 27.0–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.1–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 72.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 36.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 50.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $32,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $110,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $767 | $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 | 84.4 yr ± 3.25 | 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 3.25 years of 84.4, 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