Photo: Florence Conventions and Visitors Bureau · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Florence is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Florence trails South Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Florence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Florence
Making ends meet is harder in Florence
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.9% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (17.9% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 16.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Florence adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.3%), vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
Stroke and diabetes run high in Florence
1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.1%), vs 13.9% across South Carolina. Conditions ↓
Florence is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Florence is healthier than 25%. Against the 7,762 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 44%. 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 Florence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Florence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florence is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #99 of 169 in South Carolina. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 51% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Florence’s median household income is $56,143; among the 7,762 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few South Carolina towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Florence is healthier than 42% of graded towns, against 24% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.9% of Florence 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.
8 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Florence adults…
Florence runs above SC on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Florence
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Florence, 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 Florence; ≈ 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 Florence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Florence adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Florence 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.
Florence and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Florence adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Florence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Florence is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Florence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Florence | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.5%21.1–26 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.4–16.7 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.5–19.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%35.7–46.3 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.4–17.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.2%39.7–46.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%36.5–43.7 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%26.1–31.7 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.1 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.3%14.7–20.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.9–16.7 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%26.7–34 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.6–16.3 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%33.2–42.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%10.4–13.6 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.9%80.1–85.4 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.5%55.3–61.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%86.1–89.1 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.5%79.2–83.6 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.9–72.9 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%73.9–84.8 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19.4–25.5 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%30.8–38.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.9–29.2 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23%20.7–25.3 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.9%16–19.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%10.3–12.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.9%15.2–18.7 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%31.4–38.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%16.1–19.9 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.1–17.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.7–7.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.5–11.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.2–6.1 | 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 Florence
Is Florence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Florence is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #99 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Florence?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 46.3%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Florence?
Mcleod Regional Medical Center-Pee Dee in Florence, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Florence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Florence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–13.6%), 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 Florence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Florence.
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.