ZIP code
29940
in Seabrook, South CarolinaPopulation 3,256
42.90/ 100
Ranked #24,470 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #289 of 417 South Carolina ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #16 of 19 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
73.7%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
6.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
20.1%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.2%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
49.1%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.3%
in the top 4.6% 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 ›Fatal road crashes
46.1 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Vision disability
9.2%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.7 mi
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
29.5%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
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
Seabrook, South Carolina (ZIP 29940), overall, ranks in the bottom 24% nationally (24,470th) and the bottom 31% of South Carolina (289th).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: floodplain exposure stands in the top 1.5% nationally, modeled stroke rests in the top 3.2% nationally, and modeled diabetes registers in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled self-care disability resides in the top 5.1% nationally, modeled high blood pressure settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 4.6% nationally. Fatal road crashes sits in the top 5.0% nationally, and modeled vision disability lands in the top 6.9% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 6.2% nationally, and modeled food insecurity stands in the top 6.5% nationally.
Defined simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 29446, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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 78.2; chronic-disease standing 11.4 — 67 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,277 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
29446
South Carolinashares a border
Score 46.74
Closest healthier
29906
South Carolinashares a border
Score 49.04
Similar health profile
29052
South Carolina98% similar profile
Score 43.76
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 | 34.0% | 31.0–36.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 49.1% | 45.6–52.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Depression among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 20.1% | 17.8–22.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 37.5–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 35.6–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.8% | 16.7–23.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.3% | 12.3–16.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 85.2% | 83.0–87.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.4% | 82.0–86.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.6–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 63.7–71.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 54.2–60.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 72.5–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 11.0–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.8% | 26.9–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.8% | 34.3–43.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.3% | 22.4–28.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 32.4–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.7% | 19.3–24.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.0% | 22.7–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 29.5% | 26.2–32.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.9% | 19.2–24.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 18.1–23.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 26.6–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.5% (6.2–28.7%) n=410 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.1% (5.9–25.5%) n=412 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (3.4–21.1%) n=417 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.1% | 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 | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.0–13.6%) n=410 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.1% (71.4–95.1%) n=410 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 23.3% (12.8–35.0%) n=410 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.3% (54.9–91.8%) n=410 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.6%) n=410 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 2.7% (0.0–9.0%) n=419 |
| Single-parent households | 62.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (37.6–69.9%) n=404 |
| Population 65+ | 32.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.6% (10.9–31.7%) n=419 |
| Median age | 56.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.4 yr (33.8–54.1) n=415 |
| Median household income | $54,177 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $58,990 ($40,800–$90,964) n=384 |
| Median home value | $172,100 | $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 | 78.3 yr ± 1.54 | 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 1.54 years of 78.3, 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