ZIP code
29123
in Pelion, South CarolinaPopulation 7,938
44.17/ 100
Ranked #23,254 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #256 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #35 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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.
Mammography
67%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
40.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.9 mi
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
11.5 mi
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.5%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
3.1%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS26thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Pelion, South Carolina (ZIP 29123), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 27% nationally (23,254th) and the bottom 39% of South Carolina (256th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: fiber broadband rests in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 14.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled mammography rests in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and fatal road crashes settles in the top 6.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 8.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home rests in the top 8.6% nationally. Crowded housing settles in the top 9.6% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the top 15% nationally. Modeled uninsured rests in the top 11.6% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29054, 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 80%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.5 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $59,317 predicts 78.0 years — 3.5 years below.
Ranked #4,674 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.5 ± 1.5 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.9 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,815 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29053
South Carolinashares a border
Score 40.33
Closest healthier
29054
South Carolinashares a border
Score 54.96
Similar health profile
72351
Arkansas98% similar profile
Score 41.19
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 | 29.2% | 26.4–31.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.9% | 34.6–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 27.5% | 24.2–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.8–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 34.0–43.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.5% | 15.5–22.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.9% | 13.0–17.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.8–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.4–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 81.7–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 60.6–69.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.0% | 52.0–58.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.0% | 60.2–74.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.3–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.8% | 16.4–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.5% | 27.7–35.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 32.5–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.3% | 21.6–27.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.5% | 30.8–38.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.7–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 17.8–23.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 27.6–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 55.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 10.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $59,317 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $151,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $969 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 74.5, 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