Photo: Townofbluffton · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Bluffton is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Bluffton differs from South Carolina on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bluffton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bluffton
Binge drinking is the habit Bluffton doesn’t win on
19.6% of adults binge drink, vs 15.7% across South Carolina, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Bluffton adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (26.1% vs 31.7%), frequent mental distress (13.6% vs 16.4%), lack of emotional support (18.6% vs 23.6%) and depression (19.1% vs 22.3%) all run below South Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
Bluffton is short on primary care and mental health care
Bluffton’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Bluffton is an active town
Only 16.9% 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 Bluffton’s likely range.
What’s behind Bluffton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bluffton is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #6 of 169 in South Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 81%.
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). Bluffton’s median household income is $111,281; among the 6,966 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$139K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
7.7 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
How Bluffton adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Bluffton does better than South Carolina.
1 in 4 Bluffton 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.
Care in and near Bluffton
No hospital or community health center in Bluffton itself. These are the nearest.
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 Bluffton; ≈ 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 Bluffton adults…
Bluffton runs below SC on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bluffton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Bluffton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Bluffton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton | A | 29.2% | 10% | 9.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bluffton adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bluffton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bluffton is better than South Carolina on 24 and worse on 2; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Bluffton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bluffton | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.7%11.1–14.5 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12–15.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.2%25–33.5 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10%8.8–11.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.1%29.1–35.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%34–40.4 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.6%23.1–28.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6.2–9.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%8.1–11.1 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.9%14.5–19.8 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.6%16.7–22.6 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31%27–35 | 35.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.7–11.6 | 11.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.5–83.2 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.4–72.1 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.7–90.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.3–82.5 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.5%66.6–74 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%71.3–82.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.6–21.8 | 22.3% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 26.1%22.6–29.5 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.6%15.9–21.1 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 17.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9%7.7–10.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%5–6.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%4.4–6.2 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.1%20.4–26.1 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%9–11.7 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11%9.8–12.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.4–6.8 | 7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 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 Bluffton
Is Bluffton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bluffton is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #6 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bluffton?
CDC estimates 29.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 25% and 33.5%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bluffton?
Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville, 7.4 miles in a straight line from Bluffton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bluffton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–11.6%), 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 Bluffton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bluffton.
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.