Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Darlington is healthier than 53%
Darlington differs from South Carolina on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Darlington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Darlington
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Darlington
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.4%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.3%), vs 13.9% across South Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 11%, vs 7.5% across South Carolina. In all, Darlington runs above South Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (South Carolina 19%), and stroke, diabetes and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Darlington
52.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 21.6% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Darlington’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Darlington
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.2%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (16.1% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (21.9% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Darlington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Darlington is healthier than 7%. Against the 1,086 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 53%. Health Grade ↓
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 Darlington’s likely range.
What’s behind Darlington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darlington is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #146 of 169 in South Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 32% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Darlington’s median household income is $33,952; among the 1,086 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.
Where Darlington compares well: binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.4% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Darlington adults…
Darlington runs above SC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Darlington is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Darlington as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Darlington 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.
23.4% of Darlington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near Darlington
1 community health center in Darlington, 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 Darlington; ≈ 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.
0.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Darlington adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Darlington runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Darlington 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.
Darlington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | D | 48.5% | 21.3% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Darlington adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Darlington
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Darlington is better than South Carolina on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Darlington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Darlington | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.9%26.7–33.4 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.9–20.1 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16–20.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.5%41.7–55.2 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 21.3%19–23.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50%45.9–53.9 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%37–45.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.4%32–38.8 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.8–12.3 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.4%5.9–6.9 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.6%18.3–25.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.3–20.4 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35%30.3–39.9 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.6–14.1 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35.4–46.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.4%12.3–16.8 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.4%82.8–87.7 | 80.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%48.6–55.7 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.5–88.8 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.7%81.5–85.6 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.9%61.3–70.3 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.7–82.3 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.6–25.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%31.2–40.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.1%24.6–31.7 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.2%27.8–34.8 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.9%19.3–24.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.1%14.3–18 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.5–15.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.4%20.6–26.5 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.8%35.5–44.4 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24%21.5–26.8 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.8–20 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.6–10.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.8–14.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 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 Darlington
Is Darlington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darlington is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #146 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 Darlington?
CDC estimates 48.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.7% and 55.2%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Darlington?
Mcleod Regional Medical Center-Pee Dee in Florence, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Darlington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Darlington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.3–16.8%), 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 Darlington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Darlington.
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.