ZIP code
29479
in Saint Stephen, South CarolinaPopulation 6,031
32.91/ 100
Ranked #30,072 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 6.3%)
Ranked #405 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 2.9%)
Ranked #44 of 45 Charleston-North Charleston, SC ZIPs (bottom 2.3%)
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.
Diabetes
24.1%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
0.74%
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
7.0%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
8.5%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
27.5%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.7%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
29.5%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
52.7%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
14.3%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Obesity
48.3%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
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 flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
In overall standing, Saint Stephen, South Carolina (ZIP 29479) comes out in the bottom 6.3% nationally (30,072nd) and the bottom 2.9% of South Carolina (405th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled diabetes settles in the top 0.7% nationally, stroke registers in the top 1.3% nationally, and self-care disability stands in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lands in the top 1.4% nationally, vision disability is in the top 3.5% nationally, and tooth loss resides in the top 3.5% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 1.6% nationally, and independent living disability lies in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled obesity sits in the top 1.3% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 0.2% nationally.
In plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29056, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
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 74.2 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $51,397 predicts 77.5 years — 3.3 years below.
Ranked #4,441 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 83.5; chronic-disease standing 2.6 (bottom 10%) — 81 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #455 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
29056
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.75
Closest healthier
29431
South Carolinashares a border
Score 46.67
Similar health profile
70747
Louisiana100% similar profile
Score 27.33
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 | 35.8% | 32.7–39.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 52.7% | 49.2–56.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.8–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 24.1% | 21.7–26.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.2% | 38.5–46.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 48.3% | 42.8–54.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 29.5% | 25.2–33.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.6% | 13.5–18.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.3% | 82.3–86.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.6% | 81.0–86.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.4–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 62.5–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.3% | 43.9–50.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.3% | 68.8–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.9% | 9.0–13.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.7% | 18.1–23.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 40.7% | 36.2–45.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.3% | 39.5–49.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 32.5% | 29.2–35.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.3% | 41.3–49.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 27.5% | 24.7–30.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.8–11.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.0% | 25.4–32.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 34.7% | 31.1–38.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 25.7% | 22.7–28.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.9% | 20.3–25.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.8–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 68.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 52.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $51,397 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $127,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $950 | $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 | 74.2 yr ± 0.93 | 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 0.93 years of 74.2, 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