ZIP code
27973
in Shawboro, North CarolinaPopulation 1,117
50.07/ 100
Ranked #16,142 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #394 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranked #95 of 123 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ZIPs (bottom 23%)
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.
Distance to an emergency room
22.8 mi
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
49%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Home broadband subscription
99.2%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.7 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.6%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
2.8%
in the bottom 30% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS30thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Shawboro, North Carolina (ZIP 27973) sits in the bottom 50% nationally (16,142nd) and the top 50% of North Carolina (394th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: recreation lands in the top 5.5% nationally, home broadband subscription resides in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Crowded housing stands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Working the other way, distance to an emergency room is in the top 4.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure rests in the top 4.1% nationally. Walkability sits in the bottom 6.0% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 6.6% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 27921, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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
27917
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.23
Closest healthier
27921
North Carolinashares a border
Score 55.95
Similar health profile
27981
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 51.81
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 | 29.9% | 27.1–32.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 33.4–40.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 26.9% | 23.7–30.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 33.6–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 30.3–42.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.3–18.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.2–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 75.1–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.2–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.4–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 62.6–70.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.6% | 55.4–61.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 67.5–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.2–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 20.1–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.7% | 28.8–39.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.1% | 16.3–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 29.3–37.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 18.1–23.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 10.9–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.0–12.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.0% | 27.2–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 99.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.5% | 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 | 0.6% | 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+ | 11.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $86,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $322,200 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 1.36 | 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 1.36 years of 75.1, 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