ZIP code
27962
in Plymouth, North CarolinaPopulation 7,043
34.60/ 100
Ranked #29,526 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.0%)
Ranked #765 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 3.6%)
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.
Stroke
7.1%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
8.5%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
21.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
26.5%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
52.4%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.2%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
14.1%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.88 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Fair or poor health
31.6%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Plymouth, North Carolina (ZIP 27962) ranks in the bottom 8.0% nationally (29,526th) and the bottom 3.6% of North Carolina (765th).
Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled stroke registers in the top 1.1% nationally, and self-care disability sits in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled diabetes rests in the top 2.1% nationally, and mobility disability is in the top 1.9% nationally. Modeled vision disability stands in the top 3.7% nationally, high blood pressure settles in the top 1.7% nationally, and independent living disability lies in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health resides in the top 5.8% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and outpatient registers in the top 2.5% nationally.
For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 27846, just across the boundary. Modeled mobility disability registers in the top 1.9% nationally.
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 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
“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 75.1; chronic-disease standing 2.0 (bottom 10%) — 73 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #875 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
27846
North Carolinashares a border
Score 41.46
Closest healthier
27860
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.61
Similar health profile
24558
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 39.79
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 | 37.9% | 34.0–41.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 52.4% | 47.7–56.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.4–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–24.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.0% | 36.3–45.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.5% | 36.7–54.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 7.1% | 6.6–7.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 25.4% | 21.3–29.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 11.0–14.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.0% | 80.5–85.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.2% | 81.0–86.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.3–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 60.8–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.0% | 49.0–56.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 69.1–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.2% | 8.2–12.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.9% | 18.3–23.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 36.8% | 31.7–42.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.2% | 32.1–46.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 31.6% | 28.2–35.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.7–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.2–21.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.4% | 40.6–50.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 26.5% | 23.7–29.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.8–9.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 23.3–31.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 29.8% | 26.5–33.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 30.7% | 27.5–34.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 30.0–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 42.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 25.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 46.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $41,774 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $114,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $720 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 76.6, 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