27536 is a Democratic stronghold. About 75% of voters here vote Democratic and 25% Republican.
About 68% of adults in 27536 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 27536, ~51% vote Democratic, ~17% Republican, and ~32% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 27536 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 27536 is the most Democratic-leaning.
27536 runs about 54 points more Democratic than North Carolina as a whole. North Carolina leans Republican overall, while 27536 is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 27536. The east side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+80) and the southwest side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+12), a spread of about 69 points.
Why 27536 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 27536, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Density combined with diversity predicts Democratic voting. Non-Hispanic white share in 27536 is about 23%, about 49 points below the U.S. average of 72%. A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 44% of adults in 27536 have never been married, above 91% of zip codes. 27536 runs against the grain of North Carolina, a Democratic-leaning pocket in a Republican-leaning state.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 27536, NC sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Paved ground does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban and built-up a place is.
Why turnout in 27536 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 27536 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from North Carolina State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.