Great Branch Teacherage · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Edisto is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Edisto differs from South Carolina on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Edisto. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Edisto
Dental care lags in Edisto
51.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 25.3% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Edisto’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 38 miles from Edisto
The closest emergency room is MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown in Columbia, 37.6 miles away in a straight line. And 15.7% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 8.6% across South Carolina. For everyday care, Low Country Health Care System is closer (3.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Edisto
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.7%), about twice the South Carolina rate. Utility shut-off threats (18.1% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (25.1% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 26% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Edisto’s likely range.
What’s behind Edisto’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Edisto is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 19% of U.S. towns); diabetes 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). Edisto’s median household income is $46,788; among the 4,576 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Edisto compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.4% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.6% (U.S. 77.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Edisto adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Care in and near Edisto
No hospital or community health center in Edisto 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 Edisto; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26% of Edisto adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Out of every 100 Edisto adults…
Edisto runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
How Edisto adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Edisto runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Edisto 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.
Edisto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edisto | D | 45.7% | 20.3% | 18.7% | CDC place |
| Orangeburg | C− | 41.2% | 16.7% | 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 Edisto adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Edisto
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Edisto is better than South Carolina on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Edisto’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Edisto | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.9%25.9–34.1 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.9–19.3 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.8–21.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.7%39.9–51.3 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.3%18–22.5 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49%45.1–52.6 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.8–42.2 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%29–34.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.7–7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8.5–11.4 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.3%21.4–29.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%15.5–22.1 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36%30.9–41.2 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.2–14.8 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%37.1–48.1 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.9%12.5–19.6 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.6%80.8–86.1 | 80.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.5%47.9–55.2 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.5–87.8 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82%79.7–84.1 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.8–72 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67.9–80.7 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.5–24.6 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%29.3–38.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.4–35.6 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.7%29.5–40.1 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.1%21.3–29.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.1%15.6–20.8 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.7%13.4–18.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26%21.4–31 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.3%34.6–44 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.4%19.6–25.5 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16–21 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.5%6.5–8.7 | 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 Edisto
Is Edisto a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Edisto is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Edisto?
CDC estimates 45.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.9% and 51.3%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Edisto have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.5–19.6%), 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 Edisto 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 Edisto.
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.