ZIP code
29135
in St. Matthews, South CarolinaPopulation 8,294
48.82/ 100
Ranked #17,894 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #179 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #27 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 43%)
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.
Elder-services access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Fatal road crashes
50.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.25 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›High blood pressure
46.4%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, St. Matthews, South Carolina (ZIP 29135) ranks in the bottom 44% nationally (17,894th) and the top 43% of South Carolina (179th).
The measures split the difference for this area: elder services registers in the top 3.5% nationally, and grocery sits in the top 5.0% nationally. Mental-health providers rests in the top 8.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Against that, fatal road crashes stands in the top 3.7% nationally, modeled diabetes settles in the top 7.8% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 9.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides in the top 11.7% nationally, modeled stroke lands in the top 11.3% nationally, and home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 13.2% nationally.
In plainer terms, distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 29118, 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 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
“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 74.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $49,396 predicts 77.3 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,339 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 79.2; chronic-disease standing 20.4 — 59 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,823 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
29030
South Carolinashares a border
Score 43.76
Closest healthier
29118
South Carolinashares a border
Score 50.76
Similar health profile
29130
South Carolina96% similar profile
Score 49.39
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 | 33.0% | 29.5–36.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.4% | 42.2–50.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.5–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 35.4–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.9% | 34.1–50.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.2% | 15.1–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.7% | 10.0–13.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.6% | 81.3–85.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.8% | 80.9–86.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.8% | 87.3–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.1% | 64.3–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.4% | 53.9–61.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.9% | 68.8–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 10.7–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.6% | 25.3–34.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 31.9–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.7–26.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.1–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.6% | 30.4–39.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.5% | 22.9–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.3% | 18.5–24.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 27.1–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 57.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 26.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 45.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $49,396 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $167,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,043 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 74.9, 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