ZIP code
29209
in Columbia, South CarolinaPopulation 38,041
50.52/ 100
Ranked #15,522 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #143 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #20 of 47 Columbia, SC ZIPs (top 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.
Distance to a Superfund site
Under 0.1 mi
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
50.6%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
488 units
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
3.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
88.2%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS91stDefinition & 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
88.2%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.5%
in the bottom 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
19.9 days/year
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS77thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 29209, one of several in Columbia, South Carolina, by its overall standing, sits in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,522nd) and the top 34% of South Carolina (143rd).
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 4.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Transit sits in the top 9.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening settles in the top 7.3% nationally. By contrast, distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and floodplain exposure stands in the top 3.9% nationally. PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 9.4% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water is in the top 9.7% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the top 10.2% nationally, and humid heat rests in the top 10.7% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 29205, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 67.2 — 60 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,397 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
29033
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.94
Closest healthier
29205
South Carolinashares a border
Score 57.52
Similar health profile
15225
Pennsylvania97% similar profile
Score 50.79
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 | 27.1% | 24.7–29.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 35.3–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 19.5–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.5–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.6% | 32.7–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.8% | 31.7–40.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.4–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.4% | 10.0–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 75.1–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.7–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.3–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.0% | 69.3–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 60.1–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.5–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.7–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.5% | 19.8–25.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.7% | 37.6–45.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 18.1–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 27.6–33.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 22.3–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 17.0–21.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.9% | 30.3–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 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 | 92.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 34.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 14.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 33.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $58,772 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $206,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,326 | $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 | 78.0 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 78.0, 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