ZIP code
29418
in North Charleston, South CarolinaPopulation 26,052
50.91/ 100
Ranked #14,970 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #135 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #29 of 45 Charleston-North Charleston, SC ZIPs (bottom 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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
13.9%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
12.4%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
93.2%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS93rdDefinition & 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
93.2%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
3.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
130.3 days/year
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
5.9%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 29418, one of several in North Charleston, South Carolina ranks in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,970th) and the top 32% of South Carolina (135th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: transit registers in the top 8.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 1.7% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled disaster risk lands in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 6.0% nationally, PFOA in drinking water is in the top 7.4% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water settles in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the top 9.9% nationally, and crowded housing registers in the top 11.0% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Close by, ZIP 29404, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 Charleston-North Charleston, 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 71%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
“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 75.9 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $64,583 predicts 78.4 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,442 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 15.4; chronic-disease standing 71.5 — 56 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,008 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
29404
South Carolinashares a border
Score 60.64
Closest healthier
29414
South Carolinashares a border
Score 63.20
Similar health profile
08066
New Jersey93% similar profile
Score 49.41
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 | 24.3% | 22.4–26.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 32.8–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.8–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 18.4–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.6–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 32.1–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 31.9–39.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.2% | 13.0–17.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.2% | 13.4–17.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 76.1–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.6–81.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.9% | 65.5–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.7% | 57.0–62.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 71.9–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.1% | 24.2–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.9% | 34.3–41.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.0% | 19.1–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.3–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 12.2–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.3% | 27.6–32.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.5–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.4% | 24.7–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.4% | 20.1–24.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–20.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 31.0–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 45.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 13.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 38.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $64,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $267,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,340 | $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 | 75.9 yr ± 1.00 | 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 1.00 years of 75.9, 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