ZIP code
29530
in Coward, South CarolinaPopulation 2,641
43.97/ 100
Ranked #23,445 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #262 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranked #7 of 18 Florence, SC ZIPs (top 39%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & 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
45.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.2% 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 ›Poverty rate
29.2%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$44,012
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Coward, South Carolina (ZIP 29530) comes out in the bottom 27% nationally (23,445th) and the bottom 37% of South Carolina (262nd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and fiber broadband registers in the top 12.3% nationally. Set against that, fatal road crashes stands in the top 5.2% nationally, poverty lands in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the top 14.3% nationally. Household income resides in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure rests in the top 15% nationally. Modeled uninsured lies in the top 11.1% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 16% nationally. Modeled food insecurity settles in the top 16% nationally.
In plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29541, 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 Florence, 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 90%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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 89.7; chronic-disease standing 38.6 — 51 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,404 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
29541
South Carolinashares a border
Score 51.50
Closest healthier
29161
South Carolinaabout 1.2 mi away
Score 47.48
Similar health profile
71362
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 37.76
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 | 28.7% | 25.9–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.0% | 36.4–43.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 22.7–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 37.0–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 34.4–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.6–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.1% | 12.5–17.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.8–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.2–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.1–86.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.4% | 63.3–71.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.7% | 54.4–61.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 69.3–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.3–18.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.1% | 15.5–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.9% | 27.6–36.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 30.8–40.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.9% | 21.8–28.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.2–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.1–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 33.3–41.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.4% | 22.2–28.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.9% | 18.9–25.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.1–16.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 31.3–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 24.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 7.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 41.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 38.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $44,012 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $116,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $892 | $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 | 72.3 yr ± 1.73 | 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 1.73 years of 72.3, 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