ZIP code
29906
in Beaufort, South CarolinaPopulation 25,342
49.04/ 100
Ranked #17,614 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #173 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #14 of 19 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
70.7%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
48.1%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.4%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
276 units
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
133.1 days/year
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
50.8%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
18.8%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Overall, ZIP 29906, one of several in Beaufort, South Carolina places in the bottom 45% nationally (17,614th) and the top 41% of South Carolina (173rd).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 8.9% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, and modeled pfas sits in the top 4.2% nationally. Floodplain exposure lies in the top 4.3% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled disaster risk resides in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 7.8% nationally, modeled humid heat lands in the top 9.1% nationally, and homeownership stands in the bottom 9.5% nationally. PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 10.1% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. 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. 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 29902, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.5 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $68,174 predicts 78.6 years — 2.0 years below.
Ranked #2,700 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29902
South Carolinashares a border
Score 56.36
Closest healthier
29904
South Carolinashares a border
Score 58.80
Similar health profile
76710
Texas98% similar profile
Score 47.96
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 | 24.5% | 22.2–26.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.9–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 18.0–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 31.2–37.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.2% | 30.6–39.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.9% | 14.1–19.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.4% | 13.5–17.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.3–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.2–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.9% | 80.9–84.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.3% | 61.0–69.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.6% | 56.3–62.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 70.7–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 16.0–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 21.7–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.2% | 31.9–40.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.8% | 27.7–34.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.3–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 21.0–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.0% | 21.4–26.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–19.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.5% | 27.7–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 13.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 30.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $68,174 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $265,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,475 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 76.5, 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