Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Camden is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns
Camden differs from South Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Camden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Camden
Stroke, heart disease and diabetes run high in Camden
1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.8% across South Carolina. Diabetes is also above the state: 16.9%, vs 13.9% across South Carolina. In all, Camden runs above South Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Camden is short on primary care and mental health care
Camden’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 ↓
More high blood pressure in Camden, and more people treating it
43.9% of adults have high blood pressure (South Carolina 38.5%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 80.2% statewide. 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 Camden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Camden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #86 of 169 in South Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Camden’s median household income is $63,576; among the 9,660 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$79K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few South Carolina towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Camden is healthier than 49% of graded towns, against 32% nationally.
Where Camden compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Camden adults…
Camden runs above SC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Camden
1 hospital in Camden, 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 Camden; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Camden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
3 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
How Camden adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Camden 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.
12.9% of Camden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Camden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | C | 37.4% | 16.9% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| East Camden | B− | 35.5% | 13.7% | 13.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Camden adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Camden
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Camden is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Camden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Camden | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%19.8–25.9 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.7 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.4–18.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%30.8–44.3 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.9%14.8–19.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.9%39.9–48.1 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%38.1–46.6 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.9%29.5–36.4 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.9–10.5 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.5–5.5 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.7–17.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%12.2–16.9 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%25.2–34.2 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.1%10.7–15.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%31.5–43.3 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%9.7–14 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.8%79.8–85.6 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.2%61.8–68.5 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%86.1–89.4 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83%80.5–85.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.5%66–74.8 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%72.1–84.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.3–24.9 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%26.7–36.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%20.9–28.4 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%17.1–23.1 | 17.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.2–16.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10%8.6–11.5 | 8.9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.2–10.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.9%10.8–15.2 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%30.3–38.7 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%16.5–21.5 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.2–16.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.7–6 | 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 Camden
Is Camden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #86 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Camden?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 44.3%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Camden?
Kershawhealth in Camden, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Camden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Camden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–14%), 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 Camden more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Camden.
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.