ZIP code
29849
in Ulmer, South CarolinaPopulation 271
38.38/ 100
Ranked #27,794 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 13.4%)
Ranked #361 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 13.5%)
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.
Households without a vehicle
20.2%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.9%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
2.0%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.6%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
1.8%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
29.1%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.7%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
18.2%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.6%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
24%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Ulmer, South Carolina (ZIP 29849), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 13.4% nationally (27,794th) and the bottom 13.5% of South Carolina (361st).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled pfas lies in the bottom 5.9% nationally, and poverty sits in the bottom 6.5% nationally. By contrast, households without a vehicle settles in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled self-care disability registers in the top 6.3% nationally, and slow internet speeds stands in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity lands in the top 6.9% nationally, and short sleep is in the top 7.2% nationally. Modeled diabetes resides in the top 7.5% nationally, and independent living disability rests in the top 8.4% nationally. Modeled tooth loss lies in the top 8.8% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 29081, 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 93%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
29081
South Carolinashares a border
Score 45.40
Closest healthier
29827
South Carolinashares a border
Score 39.82
Similar health profile
63879
Missouri98% similar profile
Score 33.39
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 | 32.5% | 29.2–35.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.8% | 40.6–48.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 19.7–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 35.8–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.8% | 36.2–51.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.0% | 20.2–28.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.5% | 12.9–18.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.7–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.3–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.6% | 82.7–86.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 60.8–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.0% | 48.5–55.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.5% | 68.2–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.4–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.6% | 17.1–22.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.2% | 30.6–40.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.7% | 36.4–49.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.8% | 25.5–32.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.8–21.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.6% | 35.2–44.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.4–24.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 30.0% | 26.3–34.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 29.1% | 25.1–33.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–23.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 31.8–41.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.4–16.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 20.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 73.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.2% | 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 | 57.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 11.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 45.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $89,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $161,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,656 | $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 | 72.9 yr ± 0.98 | 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 0.98 years of 72.9, 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