ZIP code
29556
in Kingstree, South CarolinaPopulation 10,559
42.07/ 100
Ranked #25,155 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #304 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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
21.2%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
6.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
51.1%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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
7.3%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.9%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.35 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
46.1%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.3%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
31.9%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Kingstree, South Carolina (ZIP 29556), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 22% nationally (25,155th) and the bottom 27% of South Carolina (304th).
The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: modeled diabetes sits in the top 2.3% nationally, stroke settles in the top 3.2% nationally, and high blood pressure registers in the top 2.5% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 4.7% nationally, obesity lands in the top 3.0% nationally, and vision disability is in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled food insecurity resides in the top 4.9% nationally. More positively, modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and elder services lies in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 3.8% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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
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 72.1 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $42,365 predicts 76.7 years — 4.6 years below.
Ranked #5,364 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 86.4; chronic-disease standing 9.7 (bottom 10%) — 77 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #666 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
29111
South Carolinashares a border
Score 46.58
Similar health profile
27812
North Carolina99% similar profile
Score 43.29
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 | 32.6% | 29.4–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.1% | 47.0–55.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 21.2% | 18.9–23.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 35.7–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.1% | 39.1–52.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.0% | 15.8–22.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.3% | 12.4–16.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.0% | 81.9–85.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.3% | 81.5–86.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.8–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 63.5–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.1% | 50.3–57.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 73.7–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.9% | 8.9–13.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.6% | 31.0–40.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.3% | 33.5–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.9% | 26.8–33.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.4–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.3% | 36.9–45.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.2% | 20.8–25.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.9% | 28.3–35.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 23.6% | 20.7–26.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.1% | 20.4–26.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.5% | 31.6–41.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 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+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 18.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 36.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 23.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 42.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $42,365 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $107,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $597 | $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 | 72.1 yr ± 1.17 | 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 1.17 years of 72.1, 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