ZIP code
30635
in Elberton, GeorgiaPopulation 15,640
41.16/ 100
Ranked #25,909 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #535 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.2%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
17.8%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.7 mi
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.4%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
46.1%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
12.5%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.0%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
5.1%
in the top 13.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Elberton, Georgia (ZIP 30635) sits in the bottom 19% nationally (25,909th) and the bottom 25% of Georgia (535th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and binge drinking lands in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled diabetes resides in the top 8.8% nationally, distance to an emergency room lies in the top 8.8% nationally, and modeled stroke settles in the top 8.9% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure stands in the top 9.6% nationally, and self-care disability is in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled energy burden rests in the top 9.2% nationally, and loneliness sits in the top 12.8% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the top 12.5% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 29655, just across the boundary, ranks 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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
3 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 73.7 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $57,487 predicts 77.9 years — 4.2 years below.
Ranked #5,147 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.7 ± 1.1 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.4 years — 2.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,084 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 71.4; chronic-disease standing 14.2 — 57 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,939 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
29628
South Carolinashares a border
Score 37.43
Closest healthier
29655
South Carolinashares a border
Score 44.72
Similar health profile
31824
Georgia100% similar profile
Score 39.95
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 | 32.6% | 29.1–36.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.1% | 41.6–50.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.4% | 17.2–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 36.7–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.2% | 30.6–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.4% | 5.0–5.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.3% | 17.8–25.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.4% | 12.6–16.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.8% | 79.2–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.2–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.4–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 59.2–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.7% | 48.8–56.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 63.8–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.5% | 10.1–15.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.2% | 15.9–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.7% | 28.8–38.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.3% | 32.3–46.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.7% | 23.8–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.6% | 33.1–42.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.7% | 18.3–23.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.2–8.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.4–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.3% | 19.5–25.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.9% | 31.5–42.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 51.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 22.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 43.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | $57,487 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $153,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $860 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $993 ($694–$1,769) n=627 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.7 yr ± 0.55 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.1 yr (73.3–79.7) n=668 |
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 0.55 years of 73.7, 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