ZIP code
27924
in Colerain, North CarolinaPopulation 2,708
44.54/ 100
Ranked #22,862 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #593 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 ›Stroke
5.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.3%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
48.7%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
18.1%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
9.6%
in the bottom 8.2% 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 ›Walkability
2.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.4%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
21.9%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
4.0%
in the bottom 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Colerain, North Carolina (ZIP 27924) lands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,862nd) and the bottom 25% of North Carolina (593rd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: lead in tap water settles at the national minimum, and modeled binge drinking resides in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Modeled pfas registers in the bottom 8.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled stroke stands in the top 5.3% nationally, high blood pressure lies in the top 4.9% nationally, and diabetes lands in the top 7.8% nationally. Walkability sits in the bottom 8.7% nationally, modeled self-care disability is in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled mobility disability settles in the top 10.0% nationally.
A note on the 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. 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 27932, about 0.5 miles away, ranks better 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 99%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 98.9 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 10.0 (bottom 10%) — 89 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #151 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27910
North Carolinashares a border
Score 40.89
Closest healthier
27932
North Carolinaabout 0.5 mi away
Score 45.26
Similar health profile
29014
South Carolina98% similar profile
Score 46.77
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 | 34.6% | 30.9–38.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.7% | 44.2–53.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 19.4–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.1% | 15.7–20.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 35.7–45.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 33.0–50.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.7% | 16.3–23.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.1–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.8–84.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 80.5–86.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.0% | 87.4–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 63.1–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.1% | 54.1–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 71.6–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.3% | 9.1–13.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.1–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.0% | 26.7–37.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 32.7–46.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.2% | 22.4–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.8% | 34.7–44.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.9% | 18.9–24.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.1% | 22.1–30.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.8% | 19.2–26.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.2–24.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 28.6–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.2–13.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 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 | 44.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 17.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 46.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $72,469 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $137,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $837 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 1.54 | 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 1.54 years of 79.2, 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