ZIP code
29420
in North Charleston, South CarolinaPopulation 23,959
54.08/ 100
Ranked #10,590 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #86 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #24 of 45 Charleston-North Charleston, SC ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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
$0
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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
6.1%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
11.0%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
308 units
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.13 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Humid extreme heat
133.1 days/year
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
31%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
5.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.1%
in the top 10.6% 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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 29420, one of several in North Charleston, South Carolina ranks in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,590th) and the top 21% of South Carolina (86th).
The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 8.0% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled hearing disability lands in the bottom 9.0% nationally. On the other side, modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 3.5% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled transportation noise rests in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat is in the top 9.1% nationally, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 9.1% nationally, and floodplain exposure settles in the top 9.6% nationally. Crowded housing lies in the top 10.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 29456, 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. 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 77%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29406
South Carolinashares a border
Score 44.16
Closest healthier
29456
South Carolinashares a border
Score 55.10
Similar health profile
32303
Florida97% similar profile
Score 54.97
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 | 23.3% | 21.2–25.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.9–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.4–23.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 31.6–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 31.6–40.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.9–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.4% | 11.9–15.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.7–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.4–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.9–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 63.0–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.7–65.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 71.3–81.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 22.9–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 35.0–43.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 15.0–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.9–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.4% | 25.6–31.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.6% | 23.0–28.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–21.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 29.8–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.1% | 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 | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 12.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 34.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $72,661 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $331,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,529 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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