ZIP code
29166
in Ward, South CarolinaPopulation 611
42.00/ 100
Ranked #25,213 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #306 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #41 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 12.8%)
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.
Home broadband subscription
58.6%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.3%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
44.8%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
17.7%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
10.6 mi
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
11.5%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.6%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$45,652
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Ward, South Carolina (ZIP 29166) sits in the bottom 21% nationally (25,213th) and the bottom 27% of South Carolina (306th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled pfas lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally, modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden is in the bottom 11.5% nationally. Against that, home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally, modeled obesity registers in the top 4.7% nationally, and modeled diabetes is in the top 9.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled self-care disability registers in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled mobility disability is in the top 12.5% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the top 12.8% nationally.
Put plainly, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 29006, 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 91%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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 ›
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
29129
South Carolinashares a border
Score 43.94
Similar health profile
36736
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 32.18
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 | 32.7% | 29.3–36.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.3% | 39.1–47.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.2–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.3–26.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.0% | 37.5–46.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.8% | 37.4–52.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.0% | 15.3–20.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.6% | 12.6–18.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.8–84.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 77.3–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 82.9–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.9–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 55.8–62.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.8% | 66.7–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.7–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 15.2–21.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.4% | 28.1–38.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 34.0–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 23.6–31.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.4% | 34.5–44.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.0–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 18.3–24.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.2% | 21.5–29.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.8% | 20.1–27.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 13.4–19.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 13.9–19.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 28.5–38.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 34.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 38.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 58.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 70.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 21.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 50.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $45,652 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $93,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $771 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 2.50 | 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 2.50 years of 77.4, 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