Catholic Presbyterian Church · Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Great Falls is healthier than 47%
Great Falls trails South Carolina on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Great Falls. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Great Falls
Dental care lags in Great Falls
48.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 30.7% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Great Falls is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Great Falls is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Great Falls
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.8% across South Carolina. In all, Great Falls runs above South Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Great Falls is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Great Falls is healthier than 4%. Against the 610 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 47%. 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 Great Falls’ likely range.
What’s behind Great Falls’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Great Falls is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 19% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Great Falls’ median household income is $30,458; among the 610 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Great Falls adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Out of every 100 Great Falls adults…
Great Falls runs above SC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Great Falls
No hospital or community health center in Great Falls 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 Great Falls; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Great Falls adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Great Falls runs above South Carolina.
4 in 10 Great Falls 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.
23.1% of Great Falls adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Great Falls and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | D− | 40.4% | 17.4% | 22.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Great Falls adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Great Falls
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Great Falls is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Great Falls’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Great Falls | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.4%25.5–33.3 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.3–20.9 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.7–23.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.4%33.5–47.6 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.4%15.2–19.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.9%39.8–48 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%35.7–44 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.5–34.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.2–13.6 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.8–6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.7%26–35.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.1%18.8–25.6 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.4%31–41.7 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.7–17 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%33.3–46.5 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.7%12.8–19 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%75.8–82.6 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.5%44.4–52.5 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.2–85 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.5–81.6 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61%55.3–66.2 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.8%60.7–77.6 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22–29.2 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%30.9–41.6 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%23.1–31.3 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.2%25.7–34.9 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21%17.9–24.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.7%13.5–17.8 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.3%12.3–16.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.1%19.3–27 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40%35–44.8 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.5%18.8–24.4 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%17.6–22.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9%8–10.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.7%12–15.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.2–8.1 | 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 Great Falls
Is Great Falls a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Great Falls is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Great Falls?
CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 47.6%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Great Falls?
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center in Lancaster, 12.1 miles in a straight line from Great Falls’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Great Falls have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–19%), 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 Great Falls 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 Great Falls.
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.