ZIP code
29910
in Bluffton, South CarolinaPopulation 53,019
62.87/ 100
Ranked #3,048 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.6%)
Ranked #23 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 5.6%)
Ranked #5 of 19 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC ZIPs (top 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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
26.2%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
623 units
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
48.9%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & 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
7.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
13.2%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
132 days/year
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
97.1%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
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
Bluffton, South Carolina (ZIP 29910) ranks in the top 9.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,048th) and the top 5.6% of South Carolina (23rd).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled loneliness lies in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health registers in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the top 10.0% nationally. By contrast, modeled disaster risk is in the top 0.2% nationally, modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 3.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure lies in the top 4.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 5.1% nationally, modeled humid heat registers in the top 9.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lies in the top 8.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 29909, 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
“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 80.2 ± 1.5 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.0 years — 3.2 years above them.
Ranked #681 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
29909
South Carolinashares a border
Score 64.27
Closest healthier
29915
South Carolinashares a border
Score 64.58
Similar health profile
32732
Florida99% similar profile
Score 61.85
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 | 25.7% | 23.3–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.5–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 16.4–21.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.3–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.4% | 25.2–33.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.8% | 6.3–9.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.8–12.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.4–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.4–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.8% | 87.4–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.5% | 66.6–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.9% | 67.0–72.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 72.1–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.6–22.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–11.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–20.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 26.5–34.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–15.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–26.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.6% | 16.0–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.2% | 22.7–29.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 54.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 22.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 43.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $98,912 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $487,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $2,073 | $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 | 80.2 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 80.2, 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