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ZIP code

29303

in Spartanburg, South CarolinaPopulation 28,381

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

39.60/ 100

Ranked #27,016 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)

Ranked #349 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 16%)

Ranked #31 of 36 Spartanburg, SC ZIPs (bottom 13.9%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Slow internet speeds

4.1%

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

18.9%

in the top 5.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Lead in tap water

0 ppb

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

US1st
Definition & source ›

The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.

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 ›

Physician access

2.5 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›

Grocery access

0.22 per 1,000 residents

in the top 6.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST90th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

Cognitive disability

20.7%

in the top 6.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

30%

in the top 6.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

39.9 per million

in the top 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

14.8%

in the top 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

The read

Overall, ZIP 29303, one of several in Spartanburg, South Carolina lands in the bottom 16% nationally (27,016th) and the bottom 16% of South Carolina (349th).

continue reading

The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: lead in tap water stands at the national minimum, and physicians lies in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Grocery sits in the top 6.0% nationally. On the other side, slow internet speeds is in the top 2.9% nationally, modeled uninsured settles in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability resides in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity registers in the top 6.1% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 6.6% nationally, and transportation stands in the top 6.7% nationally.

Set beside the nearby areas, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 29301, 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 Spartanburg, SC metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 51%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 51%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 10%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 3%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 14%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 14%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 13%

8%

Disability

healthier than 17%

7%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 70%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 21%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 3%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 5%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 13%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 31%

7%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 66%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 86%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 17%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 20%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 6%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 14%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 17%

8%

Disability

healthier than 17%

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

3 of our published findings list 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 73.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $48,295 predicts 77.2 years — 3.3 years below.

    Ranked #4,522 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 73.9 ± 1.2 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.0 years — 3.1 years below them.

    Ranked #2,462 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

  • Highest-risk tenth

    Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale

    Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 73.9 ± 1.2 years.

    Ranked #1,408 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults25.6%23.4–28.1
High blood pressure among adults37.9%34.9–41.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults6.0%5.5–6.6
Current asthma among adults10.5%9.4–11.7
Coronary heart disease among adults6.5%5.9–7.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.4%7.6–9.3
Depression among adults25.2%22.2–28.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.7%13.2–16.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.9%32.9–39.0
Obesity among adults40.8%36.1–45.8
Stroke among adults4.1%3.8–4.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years20.6%17.6–24.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years18.9%16.7–21.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.9%73.6–78.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.0%73.9–80.2
Cholesterol screening among adults79.8%77.6–81.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.2%58.0–66.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults52.3%49.1–55.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.2%72.6–83.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.2%12.8–17.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.1%15.0–19.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults33.2%29.6–37.0
Short sleep duration among adults41.2%36.8–46.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults26.9%24.2–29.5
Frequent mental distress among adults20.6%18.5–22.8
Frequent physical distress among adults16.1%14.4–17.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults20.7%18.6–22.8
Any disability among adults39.8%36.2–43.5
Hearing disability among adults6.6%6.0–7.4
Independent living disability among adults12.3%11.1–13.5
Mobility disability among adults17.8%16.0–19.6
Self-care disability among adults5.7%5.3–6.2
Vision disability among adults8.3%7.7–9.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults29.7%26.3–33.2
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults30.0%27.0–33.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults20.8%18.5–23.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults21.6%19.3–24.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults14.8%13.3–16.5
Loneliness among adults37.4%33.3–41.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults14.7%13.0–16.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SC median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate24.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36415.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410
Uninsured 18–6424.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412
No HS diploma (25+)21.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417
Bachelor's or higher (25+)10.9%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417
Unemployment rate (16+)5.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414
Households without a vehicle8.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410
Broadband subscription81.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)36.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410
Homeownership rate47.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410
Foreign-born population11.7%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5532.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419
Single-parent households42.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08750.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404
Population 65+11.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419
Median age30.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415
Median household income$48,295$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384
Median home value$159,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383
Median gross rent$1,044$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$950 ($678–$1,545) n=343
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SC median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth73.9 yr ± 0.6078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30876.3 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 0.60 years of 73.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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