ZIP code
29541
in Effingham, South CarolinaPopulation 9,326
51.50/ 100
Ranked #14,113 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #121 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #2 of 18 Florence, SC ZIPs (top 11.2%)
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.
PFOA in drinking water
99.2%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
99.2%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.8%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Effingham, South Carolina (ZIP 29541) comes out in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,113th) and the top 29% of South Carolina (121st).
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: modeled mammography stands in the top 7.4% nationally, radon lands in the bottom 17% nationally, and arsenic is in the bottom 17% nationally. By contrast, PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 4.1% nationally, PFOS in drinking water rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lies in the top 10.9% nationally. Fatal road crashes sits in the top 13.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 13.4% nationally. Home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 29501, 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 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 75.3 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $52,067 predicts 77.5 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,923 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.
Nearby
29161
South Carolinashares a border
Score 47.48
Closest healthier
29501
South Carolinashares a border
Score 54.19
Similar health profile
29058
South Carolina90% similar profile
Score 51.22
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 | 27.8% | 25.0–30.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 38.1–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.4% | 19.5–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 13.0–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.4–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 34.5–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.3% | 13.6–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 9.8–13.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 78.3–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 79.1–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 86.0–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 64.5–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.1% | 56.9–63.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 75.2–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 24.5–32.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.0% | 32.4–42.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.1% | 29.5–36.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.2% | 23.1–29.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.9% | 16.4–21.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.8% | 30.8–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.7% | 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 | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 41.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $52,067 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $163,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $991 | $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 | 75.3 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 75.3, 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