Photo: Bernardgeorgeh · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Gaston is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Gaston differs from South Carolina on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gaston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gaston
Dental care lags in Gaston
49.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 22% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Gaston is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Gaston is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gaston
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.2%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. No reliable transportation (11.5% vs 8.6%) and utility shut-off threats (11.7% vs 8.9%) are higher too. 15.8% 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 Gaston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Gaston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gaston is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 16% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Gaston’s median household income is $60,000; among the 8,920 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gaston 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.
15.8% of Gaston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Out of every 100 Gaston adults…
Gaston runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gaston
No hospital or community health center in Gaston 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 Gaston; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
How Gaston adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Gaston runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Gaston 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.
Gaston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gaston adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gaston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gaston is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Gaston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gaston | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.7%23.9–29.6 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.3–19.1 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.6–21.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%35.9–45.7 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.5–16.9 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40%36.7–43.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%35.4–41.8 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%27.1–32.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.9–11.2 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.8 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22%18.8–25.9 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%16.9–21.8 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.8%30.1–37.8 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.3 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%34.8–43.8 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.4%14–18.9 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%77–82.8 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.4%46.4–52.9 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.6–85.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.5–80.6 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%58.5–67.2 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.1%59.4–73.2 | 77.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.8%23.7–30 | 22.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%28.3–35.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%21.7–27.9 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%21.4–27.5 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.4%15.3–19.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%13.7–18.1 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.8–40.1 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.6–20.8 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16.4–20.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.2–12.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 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 Gaston
Is Gaston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gaston is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gaston?
CDC estimates 40.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 45.7%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gaston?
Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, 12.4 miles in a straight line from Gaston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gaston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14–18.9%), 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 Gaston 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 Gaston.
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.