ZIP code
29138
in Saluda, South CarolinaPopulation 10,018
41.42/ 100
Ranked #25,732 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #318 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #44 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 6.4%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
19.1%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Obesity
45.3%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
7.6%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
17.9%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
8.6%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
26.1%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.3%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.099 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Saluda, South Carolina (ZIP 29138) lands in the bottom 20% nationally (25,732nd) and the bottom 24% of South Carolina (318th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 9.3% nationally. On the other side, modeled uninsured stands in the top 5.3% nationally, and obesity lies in the top 4.0% nationally. Crowded housing lands in the top 7.4% nationally, modeled diabetes sits in the top 8.4% nationally, and modeled vision disability is in the top 9.2% nationally. Modeled short sleep settles in the top 9.2% nationally, food insecurity resides in the top 9.8% nationally, and self-care disability registers in the top 9.7% nationally. Modeled mobility disability rests in the top 10.7% nationally.
A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 29006, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 86%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
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 ›
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 85.9; chronic-disease standing 16.6 — 69 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,111 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
29006
South Carolinashares a border
Score 47.35
Closest healthier
29037
South Carolinashares a border
Score 50.56
Similar health profile
39301
Mississippi99% similar profile
Score 39.33
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 | 31.8% | 28.6–35.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.0% | 38.9–46.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.6–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.3% | 37.8–52.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.6% | 18.3–24.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.1% | 16.8–21.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.7–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.4–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.4–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.7% | 58.0–66.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.2% | 48.6–55.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 67.1–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.4–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.2% | 30.7–39.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.0% | 36.2–47.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.1% | 25.2–31.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.3% | 36.2–44.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.7% | 19.5–23.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.8–6.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 22.7–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.1% | 23.0–29.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 16.5–21.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 29.3–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 33.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 40.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $44,579 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $136,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $839 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 1.12 | 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 1.12 years of 76.9, 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