On CDC estimates, Carolina Forest is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Carolina Forest beats South Carolina on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carolina Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carolina Forest
Fewer Carolina Forest adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below South Carolina. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Carolina Forest is an active town
Only 21.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.8% across South Carolina. The town has 16 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Stroke and diabetes are less common in Carolina Forest
Carolina Forest runs below South Carolina on stroke (3.2% vs 3.9%) and diabetes (11.7% vs 13.9%). Conditions ↓
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 Carolina Forest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Carolina Forest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carolina Forest is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #37 of 169 in South Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Carolina Forest’s median household income is $74,436; among the 10,852 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.1% of Carolina Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Carolina Forest adults…
Carolina Forest runs below SC on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Carolina Forest
1 community health center in Carolina Forest, 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 Carolina Forest; ≈ 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 Carolina Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Carolina Forest adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Carolina Forest 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.
Carolina Forest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest | B+ | 30.8% | 11.7% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Conway | C+ | 32.7% | 12.8% | 15.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carolina Forest adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carolina Forest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carolina Forest is better than South Carolina on 12 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Carolina Forest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carolina Forest | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.3–19.5 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.3–15.3 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.3–19 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.8%27.1–34.6 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32.8–38.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%36.3–41.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%25.2–29.8 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.9%6–7.8 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.4–10.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%11.4–15.2 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%18.7–24.2 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.8–19.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%30.8–38 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%77.8–82.9 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.9%63.1–68.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.2–88.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.7–82.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%65.2–71.9 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.3%73.3–82.8 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%19.8–25.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.5%26.2–32.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%18.9–24.3 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%11.3–14.9 | 17.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.9–7.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%6–8.3 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%25–30.8 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%12.1–15.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 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 Carolina Forest
Is Carolina Forest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carolina Forest is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #37 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carolina Forest?
CDC estimates 30.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.1% and 34.6%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carolina Forest?
Conway Medical Center in Conway, 5.3 miles in a straight line from Carolina Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carolina Forest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–12.5%), 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 Carolina Forest 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 Carolina Forest.
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.