ZIP code
29929
in Islandton, South CarolinaPopulation 1,276
49.38/ 100
Ranked #17,109 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #165 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
5.7%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.95 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
39.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
135.2 days/year
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
10.1 mi
in the top 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.5 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS11thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS26thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Islandton, South Carolina (ZIP 29929) ranks in the bottom 47% nationally (17,109th) and the top 40% of South Carolina (165th).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: fatal road crashes lands in the top 7.2% nationally, and modeled humid heat registers in the top 8.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits in the top 10.8% nationally, and walkability rests in the bottom 11.1% nationally. On the stronger side, modeled pfas is in the bottom 1.8% nationally, outpatient stands in the top 2.1% nationally, and fiber broadband settles in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs.
In plainer 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 29936, about 10 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.
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%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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 94.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 31.8 — 62 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,570 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
29081
South Carolinashares a border
Score 45.40
Closest healthier
29936
South Carolinaabout 10 mi away
Score 50.70
Similar health profile
21869
Maryland97% similar profile
Score 47.70
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 | 32.8% | 29.4–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.2% | 39.1–47.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 18.9–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.5–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 31.3–44.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.4% | 11.8–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 9.4–14.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.7% | 80.4–84.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 77.9–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.8–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.4% | 63.8–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.2–64.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 69.1–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.6–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 13.4–18.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.1% | 25.4–34.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 30.4–41.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 19.7–26.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 28.3–37.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.0% | 21.2–28.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 16.1–22.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.5–14.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.0–16.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 26.4–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.4% | 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 | 35.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $58,267 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $104,500 | $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 ± 1.92 | 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 1.92 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