ZIP code
28527
in Ernul, North CarolinaPopulation 1,588
42.08/ 100
Ranked #25,147 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #665 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Tooth loss
24.9%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.5 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
13.7%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
113.8 days/year
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
85.7%
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Ernul, North Carolina (ZIP 28527) stands in the bottom 22% nationally (25,147th) and the bottom 16% of North Carolina (665th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled radon settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 11.3% nationally. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 16% nationally. Working the other way, modeled tooth loss rests in the top 7.4% nationally, walkability lands in the bottom 11.3% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 14.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the top 16% nationally.
For clarity, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 27814, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 64%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
27806
North Carolinashares a border
Score 36.45
Closest healthier
27814
North Carolinashares a border
Score 58.22
Similar health profile
38549
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 35.03
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 | 33.3% | 29.7–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 38.4–47.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.2 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 23.1–31.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 34.4–43.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 32.6–48.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.9% | 20.5–29.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 9.6–14.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.6–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 76.4–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.1–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.2% | 58.8–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.0% | 52.0–60.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 67.3–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.8% | 17.5–24.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 24.8–35.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 27.5–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.5% | 21.9–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.6–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.2% | 34.1–44.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.6% | 16.8–22.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–8.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 19.6–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.1% | 15.7–22.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 14.1–20.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.3–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 28.7–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.7% | 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 | 76.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 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 | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 51.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 19.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $74,190 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $120,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $1,638 | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 1.87 | 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 1.87 years of 74.4, 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