ZIP code
29385
in Wellford, South CarolinaPopulation 8,180
47.26/ 100
Ranked #19,842 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #202 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #18 of 36 Spartanburg, SC ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.6 per million
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.3%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
104.4 days/year
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS80thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Wellford, South Carolina (ZIP 29385) stands in the bottom 38% nationally (19,842nd) and the top 48% of South Carolina (202nd).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 2.1% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 14.4% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 16% nationally, modeled housing insecurity rests in the top 18% nationally, and modeled short sleep lands in the top 18% nationally. Modeled food insecurity settles in the top 20% nationally. On the encouraging side, lead in tap water rests at the national minimum, and modeled mammography lands in the top 18% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. ZIP 29334, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
“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.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 37.6 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.8 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #1,780 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.
Nearby
29301
South Carolinashares a border
Score 46.92
Closest healthier
29334
South Carolinashares a border
Score 56.63
Similar health profile
17522
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 47.80
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 | 28.0% | 25.4–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.3% | 35.2–41.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.7–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.3–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 34.8–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 34.4–44.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.0% | 12.5–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 76.4–81.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.4–81.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.3–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 61.9–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.6% | 53.5–59.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 73.4–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.6–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.1% | 24.7–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.9% | 35.5–44.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.8% | 19.5–24.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.2–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.5% | 31.0–38.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.3–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| 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 | 26.7% | 23.6–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.3% | 17.8–22.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 29.9–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 38.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 15.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 35.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $58,249 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,018 | $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 | 76.8 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 76.8, 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