ZIP code
29936
in Ridgeland, South CarolinaPopulation 14,989
50.70/ 100
Ranked #15,275 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #139 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #12 of 19 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Slow internet speeds
3.4%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.21 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Fatal road crashes
46.7 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.63 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.21 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Humid extreme heat
136.8 days/year
in the top 8.2% 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.9%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & 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 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›The read
Ridgeland, South Carolina (ZIP 29936) ranks in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,275th) and the top 33% of South Carolina (139th).
Several of the strongest readings define how this area looks: mental-health providers settles in the top 3.9% nationally, and outpatient rests in the top 4.9% nationally. Elder services lands in the top 6.7% nationally, and childcare settles in the top 10.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other hand, slow internet speeds lands in the top 3.5% nationally, fatal road crashes settles in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 8.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands in the top 9.0% nationally, and modeled disaster risk settles in the top 9.9% nationally.
Against its neighbors, slow internet speeds 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
“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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
29906
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.04
Closest healthier
29909
South Carolinashares a border
Score 64.27
Similar health profile
31525
Georgia95% similar profile
Score 49.43
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 | 27.1% | 24.1–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.5% | 35.5–43.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.7–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.7–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 28.6–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.1–19.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.0% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.6–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.7–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.3–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 62.5–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.3% | 54.7–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 68.4–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.6–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 25.2–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 30.4–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.7% | 20.1–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 29.6–38.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.6% | 23.1–30.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 20.0–25.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.0% | 28.4–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.1% (9.1–48.9%) n=417 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (0.2–11.1%) n=414 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 45.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 14.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $48,986 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $216,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($88,260–$384,940) n=383 |
| Median gross rent | $1,295 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 76.4, 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