Photo: The original uploader was Festiva76 at English Wikipedia. · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Aiken is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Aiken differs from South Carolina on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Aiken. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Aiken
Cancer runs high in Aiken
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.1%), vs 8.6% across South Carolina. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (South Carolina 19%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Aiken keeps up with checkups
It beats South Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.9% vs 80.6%) and cholesterol checks (89.3% vs 86.9%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the South Carolina figure falls outside Aiken’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Aiken’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aiken is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #41 of 169 in South Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 87% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 21%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Aiken’s median household income is $76,746; among the 10,820 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 72%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Aiken adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Out of every 100 Aiken adults…
Aiken runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Aiken is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Aiken as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Aiken
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Aiken, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Aiken; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
How Aiken adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Aiken does better than South Carolina.
3 in 10 Aiken adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.3% of Aiken adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Aiken and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | B | 32.4% | 14.3% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Aiken adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Aiken
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Aiken is better than South Carolina on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Aiken’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Aiken | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%17.6–21.6 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12.2–15.1 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–15.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.4%28.5–36.6 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.8–16 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%37.8–43.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%36.2–42.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%29–34.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.7–10.9 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.1–12 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%7–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.3%9.5–13.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%10–13 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.4%22.7–28.5 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.8–16.1 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%30.7–38.3 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%9.1–12 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.9%81.6–86.1 | 80.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.7–68.2 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%88–90.6 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84%81.9–85.9 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.1%70.4–77.3 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%73–83.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%19–24.2 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%26.8–33.5 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%20.1–25.5 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 17.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7.1–9 | 8.9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7.2–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 10.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%27.6–33.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%14.3–17.7 | 15.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.3–14 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.3–6.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 4.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the South Carolina figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Aiken
Is Aiken a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Aiken is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #41 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 72%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Aiken?
CDC estimates 32.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 36.6%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Aiken?
Aiken Regional Medical Center in Aiken, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Aiken’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Aiken have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–12%), against 11.8% across South Carolina.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Aiken more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Aiken.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.