Photo: BeaufortTiger of English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Beaufort is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Beaufort differs from South Carolina on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Beaufort. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Beaufort
Beaufort is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Beaufort is healthier than 77%. Against the 9,234 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 96%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Beaufort doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 15.7% across South Carolina, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Beaufort has a top-rated hospital
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Beaufort is an active town
Only 21.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Beaufort’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Beaufort’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Beaufort is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, #29 of 169 in South Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 80% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 62%.
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). Beaufort’s median household income is $61,220; among the 9,234 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 96%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
8.2 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Beaufort
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Beaufort, 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 Beaufort; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Beaufort adults…
Beaufort runs below SC on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Beaufort adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Beaufort adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Beaufort 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.
9.7% of Beaufort adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Beaufort and the towns around it
Beaufort’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort | A− | 30.9% | 11.3% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Burton | B− | 36.2% | 14.4% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Port Royal | A | 28.8% | 7.7% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Laurel Bay | B+ | 31.8% | 8.2% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Seabrook | — | — | — | — |
Seabrook: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Beaufort adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Beaufort
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Beaufort is better than South Carolina on 7 and worse on 2; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Beaufort’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Beaufort | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%14.5–18.8 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.3–14.3 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.4–18 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.9%26.6–35.5 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.4%31.4–37.4 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%33.5–39.6 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%23.6–28.4 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9%8–10.2 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%8–9.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.7 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 3.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.6–14 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.6–13.2 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%18.2–24.5 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16.1–21.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.9%27.9–36 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%11.2–15.1 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76.2–81.9 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.5%62.3–68.4 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.6–84.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.7–80.9 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.8%66.6–74.4 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%70.3–82 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.7%17.1–22.4 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.5%25.7–33.1 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.2–24.1 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.4%15–19.9 | 17.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.2%10.5–13.9 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 8.9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.7%8.2–11.2 | 10.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.3–33.1 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.2–14.6 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.3–16.7 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.9 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 4.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Beaufort
Is Beaufort a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Beaufort is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #29 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Beaufort?
CDC estimates 30.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.6% and 35.5%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Beaufort?
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, 3.4 miles in a straight line from Beaufort’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Beaufort have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.2–15.1%), 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 Beaufort more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Beaufort.
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.