Within South Carolina, Burton is healthier than 61% of graded towns
Burton differs from South Carolina on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Burton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Burton
Every town around Burton scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Burton’s B−, from Laurel Bay (B+) to Port Royal (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Burton
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.7%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (17.6% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 15.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Burton is short on primary care and mental health care
Burton’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 ↓
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 Burton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Burton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burton is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #66 of 169 in South Carolina. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 57% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Burton’s median household income is $68,063; among the 10,335 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Where Burton compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
Burton and the towns around it
Burton’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton | B− | 36.2% | 14.4% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Beaufort | A− | 30.9% | 11.3% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Port Royal | A | 28.8% | 7.7% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Shell Point | A− | 31% | 11.3% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Laurel Bay | B+ | 31.8% | 8.2% | 12.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.1% of Burton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near Burton
No hospital or community health center in Burton 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 Burton; ≈ 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 Burton adults…
Burton runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Burton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Burton adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Burton 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Burton adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Burton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Burton is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Burton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Burton | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.7–22.7 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.7–16 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.1–18.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%31.6–41.1 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.7–16.1 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%35.1–41.3 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%33.2–39.4 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.8%24.3–29.3 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.5–7.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.7%12.1–17.4 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.1–16.2 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%21.8–28.6 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%14.7–19.9 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.4%32–40.7 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%12.7–17.3 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.3–82.9 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.8%57.6–63.9 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.3–86.9 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.9–82.5 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%61.5–69.6 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%71.7–83 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%17.1–22.3 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%26.7–34.2 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.7–26.8 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.7%20.6–26.8 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.6%15.3–19.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12%10.5–13.6 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.9–12.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%12.8–17.4 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%27.8–34.6 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.8–17.4 | 15.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14–17.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.3–7.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.8–11 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Burton
Is Burton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burton is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #66 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Burton?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 41.1%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Burton?
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Burton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Burton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.7–17.3%), 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 Burton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Burton.
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.