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≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Elgin · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Elgin is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns

Elgin beats South Carolina on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elgin. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Elgin

Health Grade

What’s behind Elgin’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elgin is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 65% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 51%.

B+Self-rated health17.7% · SC 20.1% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.4% · SC 14% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress16.8% · SC 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
BObesity34.7% · SC 35.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12% · SC 13.9% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking13.7% smoke · SC 13.3% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise23.9% · SC 25.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 62%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $69K–$115K (9,770)Healthier than 53%

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). Elgin’s median household income is $91,667; among the 9,770 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Elgin could be anywhere from C to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Elgin

No hospital or community health center in Elgin itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERPrisma Health BaptistColumbia · ≈10.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyPrisma Health Baptist★★★★★ · 10.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSandhills Medical Foundation--Lugoff Baldwin AveLugoff · 7.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.1 mi
Sandhills Medical Foundation--Lugoff Baldwin Ave
Lugoff · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
9.6 mi
Genehis Health Care
2 sites · nearest in Columbia
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
≈10.8 mi
Prisma Health Baptist
Columbia · ★★★★★
ER
13 mi
Kershawhealth
Camden · ★★★★★
ER
15 mi
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Columbia · ★★★★★
ER
16.3 mi
Columbia SC VA Medical Center
Columbia · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Elgin itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Elgin itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Elgin itself

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 Elgin; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Elgin adults…

Elgin runs below SC on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

3 of every 100 Elgin adults have had a stroke
South Carolina: 4 in 100 · better · likely 3–3.6%
Better than SCWorseAbout the sameSouth Carolina
Why age matters in Elgin

Only 11% of Elgin residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Heart disease, stroke and diabetes run low partly because the town is young.

Residents 65 and older

Elgin11%
South Carolina19%
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina

Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.9%SC 25.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 37.6%SC 35.8%
Binge drink 17%SC 15.7%
Smoke cigarettes 13.7%SC 13.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Elgin, betterElgin, worseAbout the sameSouth Carolina
Where Elgin gets moving

0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Elgin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.

79%Yearly checkupSC 81%
65%Dentist visitSC 63%
87%Cholesterol checkSC 87%
67%Colon screeningSC 69%
78%MammogramSC 78%
78%Taking BP medsSC 80%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Elgin 10.6% · South Carolina 1 in 8 (11.8%)
Mind & connection

How Elgin adults are doing

About the same as South Carolina on each measure.

1 in 3Elgin adults feel lonely
31.6% · SC 31.7% · About the same as SC
1 in 4Elgin adults lack social or emotional support
24.2% · SC 23.6% · About the same as SC
1 in 4Elgin adults have been diagnosed with depression
23% · SC 22.3% · About the same as SC
1 in 6Elgin adults are in frequent mental distress
16.8% · SC 16.4% · About the same as SC
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Elgin adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Elgin adults worry about having enough food
15% · SC 17.4%
About the same as SC
1 in 8
Elgin adults worry about keeping their housing
12.1% · SC 13.3%
About the same as SC
1 in 13
Elgin adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.8% · SC 8.9%
About the same as SC
1 in 13
Elgin adults lack reliable transportation
7.5% · SC 8.6%
Better than SC

8.3% of Elgin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.

Around town

Elgin and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
ElginB34.7%12%13.7%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28.3%

of Elgin adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13%
Thinking or memory14.2%
Hearing6.2%
Errands alone7.8%
Vision4.6%
Dressing or bathing3.6%
South Carolina

Every CDC estimate for Elgin

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elgin is better than South Carolina on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Elgin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…ElginSCU.S.vs SC
Overall health
Fair or poor health17.7%15.5–20.320.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.4%11.9–15.114%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.8%14.8–18.816.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity34.7%28.3–41.535.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12%10.5–13.613.9%12%Better
High blood pressure35.3%31.5–39.238.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.3%34.2–42.438.1%37.1%About the same
Arthritis26.5%23.5–29.628.5%25.3%About the same
Asthma9.6%8.5–10.99.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.3%7.5–9.18.6%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease5.8%5.2–6.46.8%6.4%Better
COPD6.6%5.8–7.57.5%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.3%3–3.63.9%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)10.2%8.3–12.313.9%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.7%11.7–15.813.3%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work23.9%20.3–27.725.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking17%14–20.215.7%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.6%31.8–43.835.8%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)10.6%8.9–12.511.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.3%75.8–82.580.6%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.9%61.4–68.263.1%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.5%84.6–88.386.9%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.7%74.7–80.480.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.5%61.8–7169.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.3%71.7–84.277.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23%19.6–26.422.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely31.6%27–36.431.7%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24.2%20.7–27.623.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15%12.7–17.517.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing12.1%10.3–13.913.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.8%6.7–8.98.9%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.5%6.5–8.58.6%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)8.3%6.8–9.810.5%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability28.3%24.6–32.131.5%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13%11.3–14.915.4%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.2%12.6–1614.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.2%5.5–6.97%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty4.6%4.2–5.25.6%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.8%6.9–8.88.7%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.6%3.3–44.3%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 Elgin

Is Elgin a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elgin is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Elgin?

CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 41.5%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Elgin?

Prisma Health Baptist in Columbia, 10.8 miles in a straight line from Elgin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Elgin have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.5%), 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 Elgin 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 Elgin.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.