ZIP code
29704
in Catawba, South CarolinaPopulation 3,060
52.53/ 100
Ranked #12,717 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #109 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #52 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.0%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
58.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
60.7%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
10.1%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
4.0%
in the bottom 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
Catawba, South Carolina (ZIP 29704), overall, ranks in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,717th) and the top 26% of South Carolina (109th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 2.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Poverty rests in the bottom 14.3% nationally, and modeled tree cover registers in the top 14.4% nationally. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site resides at the national minimum, and fatal road crashes settles in the top 2.5% nationally. PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and modeled pfas sits in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 8.2% nationally, and unemployment lies in the top 9.3% nationally.
Defined simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 29707, about 3.6 miles away, comes out healthier overall.
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
29712
South Carolinashares a border
Score 51.18
Closest healthier
29707
South Carolinaabout 3.6 mi away
Score 64.51
Similar health profile
02532
Massachusetts95% similar profile
Score 59.31
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 | 29.5% | 27.3–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.3% | 36.6–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 20.6–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 36.4–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 34.0–42.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.4% | 13.1–17.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 8.9–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.9% | 78.8–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.5–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.3–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 66.2–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.8% | 62.2–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 70.9–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–18.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 23.1–29.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 30.5–37.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.8% | 27.8–34.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.9–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.0–9.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 27.3–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 64.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 50.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $74,303 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $243,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 1.34 | 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 1.34 years of 75.5, 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