Photo: US Government · Public domainWhere Fripp Island residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fripp Island, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fripp Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fripp Island
Cancer, arthritis and high cholesterol run high in Fripp Island
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (17.7%), about twice the South Carolina rate. 37.2% of adults have arthritis, vs 28.5% across South Carolina. High cholesterol is also above the state: 48.5%, vs 38.1% across South Carolina. In all, Fripp Island runs above South Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 50% of residents are 65 or older (South Carolina 19%), and cancer, arthritis and high cholesterol are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fripp Island keeps up with checkups
It beats South Carolina on five of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (88.4% vs 80.6%) and dentist visits (79.6% vs 63.1%). Checkups ↓
Fripp Island is an active town
Only 14.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Fripp Island’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Fripp Island adults…
Fripp Island runs below SC on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Fripp Island is an older town: 50% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Fripp Island as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fripp Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Fripp Island
No hospital or community health center in Fripp Island 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 Fripp Island; ≈ 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).
How Fripp Island adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Fripp Island does better than South Carolina.
1 in 5 Fripp Island 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.
2% of Fripp Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Fripp Island and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fripp Island adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Fripp Island
Why doesn’t Fripp Island have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fripp Island.
What hospital is closest to Fripp Island?
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, 13.7 miles in a straight line from Fripp Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Fripp Island?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Leroy E. Browne Medical Center in Saint Helena Island, 7.0 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fripp Island.
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. 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.