ZIP code
29741
in Ruby, South CarolinaPopulation 1,504
44.53/ 100
Ranked #22,875 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #253 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
39.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
97.1%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
11.7 mi
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
10.3 mi
in the top 13.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$45,000
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST18thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Ruby, South Carolina (ZIP 29741) lands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,875th) and the bottom 39% of South Carolina (253rd).
The measures split the difference for this area: fiber broadband stands in the top 8.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies in the top 13.6% nationally, and modeled radon resides in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Against that, fatal road crashes registers in the top 6.9% nationally, distance to a nursing home sits in the top 8.4% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 10.7% nationally. Households without a vehicle is in the top 13.2% nationally, and modeled diabetes stands in the top 12.8% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 29709, 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 89%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
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 89.4; chronic-disease standing 17.7 — 72 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #964 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
28133
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.06
Closest healthier
29709
South Carolinashares a border
Score 47.28
Similar health profile
63465
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 43.90
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 | 33.6% | 30.2–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.6% | 39.5–47.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.3–27.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.3% | 38.1–46.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.3% | 35.4–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.6% | 15.6–22.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.3% | 11.2–15.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.7% | 80.2–85.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.2–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.1–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.4–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.1% | 53.5–61.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.2% | 65.9–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.8–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 14.6–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.0% | 27.5–37.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 31.6–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.8% | 21.7–28.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 33.5–42.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.9% | 17.4–22.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.3–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.9–23.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.7–14.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 27.5–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.0% | 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 | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 41.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $117,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $729 | $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 ± 1.41 | 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 1.41 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