ZIP code
29693
in Westminster, South CarolinaPopulation 15,114
43.85/ 100
Ranked #23,561 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #267 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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
1.2%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS5thDefinition & 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 top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
64.7%
in the top 12.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Westminster, South Carolina (ZIP 29693) ranks in the bottom 27% nationally (23,561st) and the bottom 36% of South Carolina (267th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover lands in the top 12.1% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled disaster risk rests in the top 5.3% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 9.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat rests in the top 16% nationally, and fatal road crashes lands in the top 19% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol settles in the top 19% nationally.
For context, 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. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 29643, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
“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 75.2 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $54,503 predicts 77.7 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,442 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.2 ± 1.3 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.8 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,036 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
29643
South Carolinashares a border
Score 47.13
Closest healthier
29658
South Carolinashares a border
Score 48.34
Similar health profile
26147
West Virginia98% similar profile
Score 29.13
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 | 34.2% | 30.8–37.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.5% | 35.6–43.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 22.9–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 37.5–45.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 32.8–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.4% | 15.3–22.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.1% | 11.2–15.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 78.9–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.2–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.0–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 62.3–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.2% | 55.7–62.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.1% | 65.6–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.7–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.6% | 26.4–34.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 31.4–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.7% | 31.6–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.5–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.3–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–21.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.1–13.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.4–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 53.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 21.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 48.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $54,503 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $167,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $776 | $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 | 75.2 yr ± 0.68 | 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 0.68 years of 75.2, 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