ZIP code
29718
in Jefferson, South CarolinaPopulation 4,133
41.60/ 100
Ranked #25,574 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #312 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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 ›Distance to a nursing home
13.2 mi
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.5 mi
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43.9%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.2%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Fiber broadband
95.8%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
17.5%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Jefferson, South Carolina (ZIP 29718) places in the bottom 20% nationally (25,574th) and the bottom 25% of South Carolina (312th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: childcare is in the top 9.7% nationally, and fiber broadband lands in the top 9.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, distance to a nursing home settles in the top 6.8% nationally, and distance to an emergency room sits in the top 9.0% nationally. Modeled obesity lies in the top 6.5% nationally, slow internet speeds rests in the top 9.6% nationally, and modeled diabetes resides in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled food insecurity is in the top 10.5% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 29009, 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 77%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
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 ›
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 76.5; chronic-disease standing 17.7 — 59 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,823 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
29009
South Carolinashares a border
Score 41.82
Closest healthier
29067
South Carolinashares a border
Score 42.53
Similar health profile
65557
Missouri100% similar profile
Score 36.91
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 | 32.0% | 29.0–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.2% | 39.6–47.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.0–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 36.8–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.9% | 37.5–50.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.0% | 17.8–24.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.8% | 12.5–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 79.2–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 77.2–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.8–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.7% | 59.1–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 52.1–59.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 68.1–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.0–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–21.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.8% | 29.7–38.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.5% | 33.8–45.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.6% | 23.8–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.4% | 35.4–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.3–23.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.7% | 23.2–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.5% | 22.3–28.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–18.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.3–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 42.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $59,464 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $127,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $810 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.97 | 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 0.97 years of 76.3, 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