ZIP code
29374
in Pauline, South CarolinaPopulation 3,079
50.18/ 100
Ranked #15,985 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 50%)
Ranked #147 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #13 of 36 Spartanburg, SC ZIPs (top 36%)
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35.2 per million
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
65.2%
in the top 11.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
107.3 days/year
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
2.2%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS19thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
0.08%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Pauline, South Carolina (ZIP 29374) lands in the top 50% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,985th) and the top 35% of South Carolina (147th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and lead in tap water lies at the national minimum. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover sits in the top 11.8% nationally, and homeownership is in the top 13.8% nationally. On the other side, PFOA in drinking water settles at the national maximum, PFAS in drinking water resides at the national maximum, and modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and pfas stands in the top 14.0% nationally.
A note on the terms: PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 29302, 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.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29302
South Carolinashares a border
Score 51.29
Closest healthier
29376
South Carolinashares a border
Score 51.71
Similar health profile
46714
Indiana96% similar profile
Score 49.08
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% | 28.7–34.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.4% | 36.2–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 22.0–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 38.2–44.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 32.0–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.4–18.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.5–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 78.3–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 76.1–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.2–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 62.2–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.5% | 55.4–61.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 71.7–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.0–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.3% | 13.1–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.3% | 23.1–30.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.9% | 32.7–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.4% | 18.0–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.9% | 30.5–37.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.8–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.4–17.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 27.5–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.7% | 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 | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 53.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 22.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 48.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $78,397 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $247,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $848 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.33 | 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 1.33 years of 80.9, 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