ZIP code
27886
in Tarboro, North CarolinaPopulation 18,381
43.33/ 100
Ranked #24,075 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #630 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #9 of 15 Rocky Mount, NC ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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 ›Binge drinking
11.4%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.9%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
5.6%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47.4%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
328 units
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
92%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFOS in drinking water
92%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›The read
Tarboro, North Carolina (ZIP 27886), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 25% nationally (24,075th) and the bottom 21% of North Carolina (630th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers settles in the top 6.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 7.4% nationally. On the other hand, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 6.4% nationally, and modeled stroke settles in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lands in the top 7.0% nationally, and disaster risk rests in the top 7.5% nationally. PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 7.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 27834, 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 Rocky Mount, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
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
27801
North Carolinashares a border
Score 38.35
Closest healthier
27834
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.44
Similar health profile
29102
South Carolina97% similar profile
Score 40.99
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 | 33.6% | 29.8–37.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.4% | 42.7–51.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.0–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–19.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 33.7–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.3% | 33.9–50.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.7–25.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 10.7–14.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.8–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 79.5–85.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.9–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 61.9–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.6% | 50.6–58.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 71.8–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.4% | 9.1–13.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 27.4–37.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 29.8–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.2% | 23.2–29.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.5% | 34.7–44.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.4% | 18.8–24.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–6.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–8.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.0% | 22.7–29.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–26.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.2% | 19.6–24.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
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 | 14.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 54.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 26.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 47.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $52,850 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $133,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $843 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.86 | 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 0.86 years of 76.7, 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