ZIP code
29340
in Gaffney, South CarolinaPopulation 20,763
37.78/ 100
Ranked #28,155 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.2%)
Ranked #370 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 11.3%)
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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
12.7%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.4%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35.1 per million
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
26.6%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
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 ›Cognitive disability
19%
in the top 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$44,123
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 29340, one of several in Gaffney, South Carolina comes out in the bottom 12.2% nationally (28,155th) and the bottom 11.3% of South Carolina (370th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, modeled independent living disability registers in the top 7.9% nationally, and modeled self-care disability stands in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 9.0% nationally, food insecurity is in the top 9.1% nationally, and utility shutoff resides in the top 10.1% nationally. Modeled transportation rests in the top 10.3% nationally, and vision disability lies in the top 10.1% nationally. On the brighter side, lead in tap water sits at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29307, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
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
2 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 73.2 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $44,123 predicts 76.8 years — 3.7 years below.
Ranked #4,815 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 73.2 ± 1.3 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.7 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #1,996 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29307
South Carolinashares a border
Score 51.66
Closest healthier
29330
South Carolinashares a border
Score 42.82
Similar health profile
65723
Missouri99% similar profile
Score 38.72
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 | 31.4% | 28.1–34.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.2% | 37.1–45.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.2–28.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.2% | 35.0–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 32.9–48.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.3% | 18.7–26.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 77.2–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.4–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 81.3–85.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.1% | 57.7–68.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.2% | 50.4–57.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.0% | 64.5–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.7% | 17.3–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.4% | 29.8–39.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.8% | 33.8–47.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 24.5–30.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 17.9–22.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.8–19.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.5% | 35.1–44.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.5–14.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.1% | 18.0–22.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.9% | 22.5–29.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.6% | 23.8–29.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 17.5–21.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.1% | 30.4–40.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 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 | 47.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 17.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 41.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $44,123 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $108,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $798 | $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 | 73.2 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 73.2, 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