ZIP code
29438
in Edisto Beach, South CarolinaPopulation 2,826
52.19/ 100
Ranked #13,201 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #111 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #27 of 45 Charleston-North Charleston, SC ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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.
Grocery access
0.64 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
78.7%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
26.7%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
46.5%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
10.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
4.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
47.9%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
18.4%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.6%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.5 mi
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›The read
Edisto Beach, South Carolina (ZIP 29438), by its overall standing, sits in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,201st) and the top 27% of South Carolina (111th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: grocery settles in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled loneliness registers in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and transit stands in the top 5.9% nationally. By contrast, floodplain exposure lands in the top 1.2% nationally, modeled high cholesterol is in the top 2.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 6.1% nationally, and diabetes lies in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled stroke sits in the top 6.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room settles in the top 7.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, grocery runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 29487, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 96.7 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 11.0 — 86 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #253 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
29446
South Carolinashares a border
Score 46.74
Closest healthier
29487
South Carolinashares a border
Score 60.70
Similar health profile
78618
Texas99% similar profile
Score 52.18
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 | 39.8% | 37.2–42.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.9% | 45.1–51.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.9% | 12.8–14.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.4% | 16.6–20.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 46.5% | 43.7–49.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.2% | 29.5–37.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 9.3–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.1–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 87.7% | 86.1–89.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 85.8% | 84.0–87.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.6% | 91.6–93.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.6% | 70.4–76.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 59.7–64.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 74.0–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 10.4–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 23.5–30.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 27.9–34.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.3% | 18.7–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–14.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 30.0–37.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 17.8–23.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.0–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.5–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.7% | 23.8–30.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 24.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 53.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 85.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 43.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 62.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $86,979 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $642,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $888 | $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 | 78.0 yr ± 2.83 | 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 2.83 years of 78.0, 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