Photo: Excel23 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Central is healthier than 87%
Central differs from South Carolina on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Central. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Central
Central is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Central is healthier than 62%. Against the 8,994 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 87%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Central
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (21.9%), vs 16.4% across South Carolina. Loneliness is above the state too: 38.9%, vs 31.7% across South Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Central
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.2%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. No reliable transportation (13.2% vs 8.6%) and housing insecurity (16% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 14% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Central
Central runs below South Carolina on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4.1% vs 8.6%), arthritis (16% vs 28.5%) and heart disease (3.9% vs 6.8%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (South Carolina 19%). 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 Central’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Central’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Central is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #43 of 169 in South Carolina. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Central’s median household income is $60,258; among the 8,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 87%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Central adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Central runs above South Carolina.
2 in 5 Central 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.
14% of Central adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Out of every 100 Central adults…
Central runs below SC on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Central residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Central
No hospital or community health center in Central 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 Central; ≈ 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).
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 Central adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Central 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Central adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Central
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Central is better than South Carolina on 9 and worse on 12; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Central’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Central | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.7%16.9–22.9 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.6–13.9 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.9%19.1–24.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%28.3–40.4 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.7%22.8–28.8 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.8%23–29 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 16%14.2–17.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%12.9–18.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%10.1–14.5 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.9%20.9–29.3 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.6–22.4 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%32.4–44 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%10.9–16.5 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.5%69.3–77.5 | 80.6% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.3%51.4–59 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73.4%69.5–76.9 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 61.8%59.3–64.4 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%58–67.5 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62.8–78.1 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.8–31.3 | 22.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 38.9%34.1–44.1 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.2–28.7 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%20.1–28.7 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16%13.5–18.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%11.2–15.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14%11.4–16.9 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.7%28.1–37.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.2%17.1–23.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.5 | 7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.1–12.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| 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 Central
Is Central a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Central is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #43 of 169 in South Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Central?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 40.4%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Central?
Cannon Memorial Hospital in Pickens, 10.7 miles in a straight line from Central’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Central have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–16.5%), 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 Central 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 Central.
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.