ZIP code
29659
in Lowndesville, South CarolinaPopulation 163
46.48/ 100
Ranked #20,783 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #218 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Fiber broadband
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
0.96%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
38.7%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
20.3 mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
51.1%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
12.6 mi
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
67.3%
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Lowndesville, South Carolina (ZIP 29659) places in the bottom 35% nationally (20,783rd) and the bottom 48% of South Carolina (218th).
The measures that matter most for this area lead the way: poverty resides in the top 3.4% nationally, and distance to an emergency room is in the top 5.3% nationally. Homeownership lands in the bottom 9.7% nationally. On the better side, fiber broadband stands at the national maximum, modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 1.5% nationally, and modeled disaster risk settles in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum, and modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 10.5% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 29620, about 0.5 miles away.
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%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29655
South Carolinashares a border
Score 44.72
Closest healthier
29620
South Carolinaabout 0.5 mi away
Score 46.57
Similar health profile
26884
West Virginia96% similar profile
Score 37.22
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 | 33.1% | 29.1–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.0% | 37.2–46.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.1–12.0 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 21.6–29.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–18.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 37.1–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 30.5–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.1% | 14.1–20.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 8.3–15.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.9% | 78.9–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.5% | 78.1–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 84.5–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.6–69.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.1% | 58.3–65.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.8% | 68.1–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.5–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.1% | 13.2–21.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 24.2–36.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 30.7–44.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.8% | 19.5–28.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 15.8–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 14.4–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 13.8–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.8% | 30.1–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 8.7–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 15.4–22.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 20.0–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 15.0–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 8.9–15.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 10.6–16.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.7–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.4–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.5–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 38.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 54.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 5.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 47.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $510 | $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 | 82.9 yr ± 2.94 | 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 2.94 years of 82.9, 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