ZIP code
27909
in Elizabeth City, North CarolinaPopulation 40,869
52.50/ 100
Ranked #12,745 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #289 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
654 units
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
18.4 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.4%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0.00014 ppb
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US9thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS21stDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Elizabeth City, North Carolina (ZIP 27909) lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,745th) and the top 36% of North Carolina (289th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 3.1% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Physicians is in the top 12.7% nationally, and modeled radon sits in the bottom 7.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 5.5% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lies in the top 6.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 8.2% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 10.3% nationally. Floodplain exposure registers in the top 10.9% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. On the overall standing, ZIP 27921, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 76.4 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $66,732 predicts 78.5 years — 2.1 years below.
Ranked #2,750 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27919
North Carolinashares a border
Score 45.88
Closest healthier
27921
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.95
Similar health profile
48609
Michigan95% similar profile
Score 51.70
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 | 28.3% | 25.1–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 35.4–44.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.3–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 31.9–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 30.3–47.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.6–17.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.6–11.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.0–84.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.2–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 64.2–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 58.2–65.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 72.2–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.5–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 21.3–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 28.2–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 18.0–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 29.4–38.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 20.7–28.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–16.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 28.2–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 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 | 91.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 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 | 52.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 39.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $66,732 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $234,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,170 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 76.4, 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