ZIP code
29481
in Smoaks, South CarolinaPopulation 1,759
40.75/ 100
Ranked #26,229 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #333 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Fiber broadband
99.5%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
15.3%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
19.3%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
45.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47.6%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.5%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
27.2%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
23.6%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Smoaks, South Carolina (ZIP 29481) ranks in the bottom 18% nationally (26,229th) and the bottom 20% of South Carolina (333rd).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: fiber broadband stands in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 4.5% nationally. By contrast, unemployment resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and modeled diabetes stands in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled stroke sits in the top 4.7% nationally, fatal road crashes resides in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled self-care disability sits in the top 8.5% nationally, food insecurity resides in the top 8.5% nationally, and tooth loss stands in the top 9.4% nationally.
For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 29081, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
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 93.9 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 11.2 — 83 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #377 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
29081
South Carolinashares a border
Score 45.40
Closest healthier
29082
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.07
Similar health profile
36738
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 33.09
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 | 34.3% | 31.3–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.6% | 43.9–51.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 18.5–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 35.2–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.1% | 34.6–47.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.6% | 20.1–27.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.8% | 11.6–16.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.3% | 81.4–85.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.3% | 79.5–84.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.7–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 60.3–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 49.9–56.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 69.7–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 10.2–14.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.4% | 31.0–39.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 34.4–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.6% | 24.8–30.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 34.1–42.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.8–24.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.0% | 24.5–31.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.2% | 23.7–30.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 15.9–21.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.1% | 16.6–21.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 29.3–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 15.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 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 | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 62.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $46,719 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $88,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $543 | $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 | 73.4 yr ± 1.53 | 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 1.53 years of 73.4, 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