ZIP code
29009
in Bethune, South CarolinaPopulation 2,451
41.82/ 100
Ranked #25,370 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #309 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #42 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 10.7%)
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.
Diabetes
18.1%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.4%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS10thDefinition & 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
2.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 14.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS14thDefinition & 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 a hazardous-chemical facility
8.6 mi
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Bethune, South Carolina (ZIP 29009) lands in the bottom 21% nationally (25,370th) and the bottom 26% of South Carolina (309th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled radon is in the bottom 9.9% nationally. On the other hand, modeled diabetes stands in the top 7.8% nationally, stroke settles in the top 8.9% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the top 12.8% nationally. Modeled mobility disability resides in the top 13.2% nationally, high blood pressure lands in the top 12.4% nationally, and high cholesterol registers in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled self-care disability sits in the top 12.2% nationally, and walkability rests in the bottom 14.5% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 29032, just across the boundary.
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 Columbia, SC 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 83%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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 ›
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 82.6; chronic-disease standing 15.2 — 67 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,230 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
29010
South Carolinashares a border
Score 37.84
Closest healthier
29032
South Carolinashares a border
Score 45.61
Similar health profile
29924
South Carolina100% similar profile
Score 40.55
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 | 33.8% | 30.6–37.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.0% | 41.2–48.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.6–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.1% | 39.0–47.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.0% | 32.5–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–5.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.8% | 13.9–20.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.7% | 12.4–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.6% | 80.2–84.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.2–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.8–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 62.2–71.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.7% | 54.1–61.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 67.7–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.2–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.4% | 15.9–21.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.5% | 29.1–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.1% | 33.4–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.3% | 23.3–29.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 33.8–42.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.0% | 18.7–23.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.9% | 23.4–30.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.8% | 20.8–27.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–18.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.7–37.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 62.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 23.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 42.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $57,857 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $97,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,064 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $950 ($678–$1,545) n=343 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.2 yr ± 1.22 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.3 yr (73.2–79.9) n=389 |
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 1.22 years of 74.2, 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