ZIP code
29909
in Okatie, South CarolinaPopulation 24,003
64.27/ 100
Ranked #2,310 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.3%)
Ranked #15 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 3.6%)
Ranked #4 of 19 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
Loneliness
22.9%
in the bottom 0.02% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
4.3%
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
2.8%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
81.4%
in the top 0.08% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
3.5%
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
24.5%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
48.3%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
70.9%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
6.3%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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
Okatie, South Carolina (ZIP 29909), by its composite score, sits in the top 7.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,310th) and the top 3.6% of South Carolina (15th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled loneliness is in the bottom 0.02% nationally, and housing insecurity lands in the bottom 0.2% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and colon screening registers in the top 0.08% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 0.4% nationally, short sleep sits in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the bottom 2.0% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 0.8% nationally, floodplain exposure resides in the top 1.6% nationally, and modeled disaster risk is in the top 2.6% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 29905, about 0.6 miles away.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.09%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.2%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.4 ± 1.4 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.8 years — 3.7 years above them.
Ranked #463 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, 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
29905
South Carolinaabout 0.6 mi away
Score 64.56
Similar health profile
34134
Florida100% similar profile
Score 64.26
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 | 39.6% | 36.5–42.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.6% | 42.4–48.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 18.2% | 16.7–19.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 48.3% | 45.0–51.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.2% | 21.7–28.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.7% | 6.4–9.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.8–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 89.4% | 87.7–90.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 88.3% | 86.4–89.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 94.4% | 93.6–95.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 81.4% | 78.5–83.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 75.7% | 73.3–77.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 76.1–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.9% | 16.1–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 24.5% | 21.3–27.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.7% | 11.8–15.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 26.1–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 15.2% | 13.1–17.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 2.9% | 2.3–3.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 22.9% | 19.9–25.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 84.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 60.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 69.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $91,294 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $453,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $2,181 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 80.4, 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