ZIP code
29205
in Columbia, South CarolinaPopulation 22,223
57.52/ 100
Ranked #6,785 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #56 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 13.5%)
Ranked #9 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (top 19%)
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.
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
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 ›Transit access
5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Walkability
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
75%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.13 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
9.8%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
247 units
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 29205, one of several in Columbia, South Carolina lands in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,785th) and the top 13.5% of South Carolina (56th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: transit stands in the top 5.0% nationally, walkability rests in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening registers in the top 3.0% nationally. Mental-health providers resides in the top 8.2% nationally, grocery settles in the top 9.6% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 10.0% nationally. Set against that, PFOA in drinking water sits at the national maximum, and PFOS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, and modeled transportation noise stands in the top 8.9% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. On the overall standing, ZIP 29206, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 6.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 88.1 — 82 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,324 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
29201
South Carolinashares a border
Score 43.35
Closest healthier
29206
South Carolinashares a border
Score 63.18
Similar health profile
56529
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 55.18
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 | 23.6% | 21.5–25.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.1% | 28.5–33.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 22.2–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.8% | 31.1–36.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.7% | 26.9–34.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.2–11.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.9–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 71.3–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.8–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.4–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.0% | 71.4–78.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.6% | 63.7–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 73.1–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.6–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.5–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.6–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.1% | 24.3–30.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.5–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 28.1–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 64.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 49.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 31.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $64,231 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $349,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.85 | 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 0.85 years of 78.7, 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