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ZIP code

29520

in Cheraw, South CarolinaPopulation 13,206

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

38.11/ 100

Ranked #27,946 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.9%)

Ranked #367 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 12.0%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Distance to a Superfund site

In this ZIP

at the national minimum

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

20.3%

in the top 3.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Mental-health provider access

0.23 per 1,000 residents

in the top 3.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Obesity

46.9%

in the top 2.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Self-care disability

7.1%

in the top 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

5.9%

in the top 4.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

23%

in the top 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

48%

in the top 6.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST83rd
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

29.2%

in the top 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

8.9%

in the top 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

The read

In overall standing, Cheraw, South Carolina (ZIP 29520) comes out in the bottom 12.9% nationally (27,946th) and the bottom 12.0% of South Carolina (367th).

continue reading

The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, modeled diabetes registers in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled obesity stands in the top 2.2% nationally. Modeled self-care disability lands in the top 5.4% nationally, stroke is in the top 4.7% nationally, and mobility disability resides in the top 6.8% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 6.0% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the top 6.8% nationally. More positively, mental-health providers sits in the top 3.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.

In plain terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29584, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 49%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 41%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 8%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 15%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 18%

11%

Disability

healthier than 9%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 15%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 41%

13%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 11%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 30%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 25%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 38%

8%

Disability

healthier than 13%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 19%

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.

  • Below what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 73.8 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $42,308 predicts 76.7 years — 2.9 years below.

    Ranked #4,036 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults34.3%31.0–37.7
High blood pressure among adults48.0%44.0–52.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.4%7.6–9.2
Current asthma among adults10.9%9.7–12.2
Coronary heart disease among adults9.1%8.2–10.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults11.0%10.0–12.1
Depression among adults22.5%19.4–25.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults20.3%18.0–22.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened41.5%37.4–45.7
Obesity among adults46.9%40.1–53.9
Stroke among adults5.9%5.5–6.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years22.8%19.3–26.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years14.3%12.4–16.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure83.4%81.2–85.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults82.8%79.9–85.5
Cholesterol screening among adults86.4%84.8–88.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.1%61.3–71.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults52.2%48.6–56.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.4%68.4–82.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.4%10.2–14.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.4%16.2–20.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults36.0%31.4–40.9
Short sleep duration among adults41.2%35.2–48.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults28.6%25.7–31.7
Frequent mental distress among adults18.3%16.3–20.4
Frequent physical distress among adults18.2%16.3–20.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults17.7%15.9–19.7
Any disability among adults40.8%36.5–45.3
Hearing disability among adults8.4%7.5–9.3
Independent living disability among adults12.7%11.5–14.0
Mobility disability among adults23.0%20.7–25.5
Self-care disability among adults7.1%6.5–7.7
Vision disability among adults8.9%8.2–9.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults27.2%23.5–30.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults29.2%25.8–32.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults21.0%18.5–23.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults19.6%17.2–22.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults12.9%11.5–14.4
Loneliness among adults33.6%28.7–38.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults14.4%12.7–16.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SC median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate24.5%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36415.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410
Uninsured 18–6414.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412
No HS diploma (25+)13.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417
Unemployment rate (16+)8.7%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414
Households without a vehicle12.2%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410
Broadband subscription83.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)29.1%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32223.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410
Homeownership rate69.4%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410
Crowded housing (>1 per room)3.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410
Foreign-born population2.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5532.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419
Single-parent households44.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08750.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404
Population 65+22.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419
Median age45.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415
Median household income$42,308$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384
Median home value$106,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383
Median gross rent$807$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$950 ($678–$1,545) n=343
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SC median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth73.7 yr ± 0.6378.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30876.3 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 0.63 years of 73.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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