ZIP code
29916
in Early Branch, South CarolinaPopulation 1,470
40.16/ 100
Ranked #26,654 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #342 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
74.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
19.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
6.5%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
138.1 days/year
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
5.5%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
28.1%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST37thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
9.9%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
26.3%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
9.6 mi
in the top 12.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Early Branch, South Carolina (ZIP 29916) places in the bottom 17% nationally (26,654th) and the bottom 18% of South Carolina (342nd).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled arsenic rests in the bottom 8.2% nationally, and pfas resides in the bottom 8.9% nationally. Pulling the other way, fatal road crashes is in the top 1.1% nationally, and modeled diabetes lands in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 8.5% nationally, humid heat registers in the top 7.9% nationally, and stroke settles in the top 7.8% nationally. Poverty sits in the top 8.1% nationally, modeled food insecurity lies in the top 9.5% nationally, and modeled independent living disability rests in the top 10.8% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 29929, 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 94%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 93.8 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 15.3 — 79 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #572 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29929
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.38
Closest healthier
29936
South Carolinashares a border
Score 50.70
Similar health profile
71357
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 31.04
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 | 33.0% | 30.4–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.6% | 42.5–48.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.8–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.8–26.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.1% | 17.3–21.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.4% | 38.3–44.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 33.7–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.2% | 14.7–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.8% | 11.7–16.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 80.6–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 79.0–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 84.1–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.1% | 63.3–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.3% | 55.2–61.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 67.2–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.2% | 16.9–21.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.2% | 30.3–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.6% | 32.6–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.8% | 25.0–30.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.8% | 17.1–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.9–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 16.2–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.0% | 35.2–42.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.5% | 19.3–23.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.8% | 23.8–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.3% | 23.1–29.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–20.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 29.7–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 28.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 4.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 53.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 13.5% | 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 | $70,982 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $123,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 73.4 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 73.4, 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