ZIP code
29826
in Elko, South CarolinaPopulation 241
41.06/ 100
Ranked #25,989 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #324 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
Unemployment rate
55.6%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
48%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
20.8%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
25.5 mi
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
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 ›Self-care disability
7.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Obesity
46.5%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
20%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
16.8%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People without health insurance
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Chronic conditions
Barriers to reaching care
- Distance to the nearest emergency room
- Households with no vehicle
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Overall, Elko, South Carolina (ZIP 29826) places in the bottom 19% nationally (25,989th) and the bottom 22% of South Carolina (324th).
The data opens plainly on what marks this place: unemployment is in the top 0.2% nationally, and modeled short sleep lands in the top 0.9% nationally. Modeled diabetes stands in the top 2.7% nationally, and distance to an emergency room registers in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled self-care disability settles in the top 5.4% nationally, modeled obesity sits in the top 2.6% nationally, and households without a vehicle lies in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the top 5.3% nationally, and utility shutoff resides in the top 4.8% nationally. More encouragingly, floodplain exposure is at the national minimum.
Beside the areas that surround it, unemployment runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 29856, about 7.3 miles away. Further still, the area also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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 60%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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
29817
South Carolinashares a border
Score 36.74
Closest healthier
29856
South Carolinaabout 7.3 mi away
Score 49.70
Similar health profile
62203
Illinois96% similar profile
Score 33.42
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 | 28.3% | 25.1–31.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.7% | 43.6–51.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.4% | 15.6–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 20.8% | 18.3–23.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.7–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.5% | 38.9–53.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.5% | 17.1–24.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.4% | 13.1–19.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.1% | 79.8–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.1% | 78.9–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 83.9–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 61.3–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.5% | 51.8–59.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.2% | 74.3–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.8% | 10.3–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 14.8–20.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.6% | 29.4–39.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 48.0% | 41.7–54.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.3% | 24.5–32.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.7% | 32.9–42.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 18.5–24.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.3% | 27.6–37.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.6% | 26.6–36.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.7% | 17.2–24.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.8% | 20.3–27.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.4–16.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.2% | 31.0–41.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.8% | 14.4–19.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 47.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 35.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 3.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 55.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 20.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.2% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 61.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 28.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 38.3 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 | $78,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,643 | $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 ± 1.74 | 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 1.74 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