ZIP code
27965
in Poplar Branch, North CarolinaPopulation 648
50.72/ 100
Ranked #15,239 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #367 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #90 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
59.8%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Housing-cost burden
47.8%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
20 mi
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
74.6%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST37thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
13.7 mi
in the top 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
91.6%
in the top 14.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Poplar Branch, North Carolina (ZIP 27965) lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,239th) and the top 46% of North Carolina (367th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Unemployment resides at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled radon rests in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Set against that, floodplain exposure stands in the top 2.6% nationally, housing-cost burden lies in the top 4.0% nationally, and walkability lands in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits in the top 5.5% nationally, home broadband subscription is in the bottom 9.6% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 12.2% nationally.
A note on the terms: industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 27916, just across the boundary, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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
27916
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.32
Closest healthier
27939
North Carolinashares a border
Score 52.14
Similar health profile
75415
Texas95% similar profile
Score 47.98
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 | 28.5% | 24.9–32.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.4% | 30.8–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.4–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.2% | 22.0–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.1–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 31.4–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 26.8–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.2–18.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 7.4–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 72.7–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 74.9–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.5–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.3–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.2% | 63.5–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 71.6–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.4–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 12.4–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.9% | 19.2–29.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 25.2–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.5–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.1% | 28.0–38.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.2–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.1–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.2–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.9–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.5–12.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.2–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 25.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 6.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.6% | 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 | 23.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 33.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 52.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $63,542 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $334,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.3 yr ± 1.27 | 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 1.27 years of 77.3, 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