ZIP code
29172
in Pine Ridge, South CarolinaPopulation 8,974
45.09/ 100
Ranked #22,308 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #246 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #32 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
79.4%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.34 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
46.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.8%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Pine Ridge, South Carolina (ZIP 29172) stands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,308th) and the bottom 41% of South Carolina (246th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, and PFOA in drinking water lies at the national maximum. PFOS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and modeled pfas registers in the top 2.1% nationally. Fatal road crashes lies in the top 4.8% nationally, PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 6.9% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 9.2% nationally. More positively, grocery is in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 10.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 29033, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.2 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $64,430 predicts 78.3 years — 3.2 years below.
Ranked #4,325 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29033
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.94
Closest healthier
29160
South Carolinashares a border
Score 45.56
Similar health profile
28429
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 46.48
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 | 30.0% | 27.2–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 38.2–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.5–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 34.9–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 35.5–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.6% | 13.9–19.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.4% | 11.7–15.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.6–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.4% | 79.7–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.6–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 62.9–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 53.4–59.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.8% | 65.4–78.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.5–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.6% | 27.8–35.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.6% | 34.5–43.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 21.3–26.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 30.0–37.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.7–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.1% | 19.5–25.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 27.7–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 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) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 54.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 23.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $64,430 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $180,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,048 | $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 | 75.2 yr ± 1.18 | 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 1.18 years of 75.2, 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