ZIP code
29588
in Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaPopulation 52,609
55.05/ 100
Ranked #9,386 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #76 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #7 of 15 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
92.4%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & 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
92.4%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
60.3 mi
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
0.6 days/year
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS31stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 29588, one of several in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on the composite measure, lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,386th) and the top 18% of South Carolina (76th).
Where this area does well, the measures make it plain: modeled radon resides in the bottom 0.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 8.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband is in the top 14.6% nationally. Against that, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 3.8% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the top 4.0% nationally. PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 7.7% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 7.9% nationally. Floodplain exposure resides in the top 11.6% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 29576, 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 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.7 ± 1.3 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.3 years — 3.4 years above them.
Ranked #601 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29526
South Carolinashares a border
Score 50.41
Closest healthier
29576
South Carolinashares a border
Score 59.39
Similar health profile
72135
Arkansas94% similar profile
Score 56.52
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 | 30.8% | 28.5–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 36.1–41.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 19.5–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.0% | 39.1–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.3% | 27.7–35.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.0% | 10.0–14.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.3% | 10.7–13.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.3% | 80.1–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.9–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 86.2–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 67.0–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.4% | 60.5–66.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 71.9–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.5% | 20.8–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 31.1–38.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.2–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.5–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.6–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 27.6–33.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.4–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.3% | 26.1–32.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 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 | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 58.5% | 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 | 45.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $70,739 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $267,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,282 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 78.7, 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