Wade-Beckham House · Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0Irwin’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Irwin trails South Carolina on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Irwin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Irwin
Dental care lags in Irwin
48.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 29.1% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
More Irwin adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.7%), vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Irwin
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.8%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.5%, vs 13.9% across South Carolina. In all, Irwin runs above South Carolina on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Irwin’s likely range.
What’s behind Irwin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Irwin is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Irwin’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 20.3% of adults, against 14% across South Carolina and 13% nationally.
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). Irwin’s median household income is $55,885; among the 7,690 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Irwin 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Irwin adults…
Irwin runs above SC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Irwin
No hospital or community health center in Irwin 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 Irwin; ≈ 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 Irwin adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Irwin runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Irwin 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.
26.2% of Irwin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Irwin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin | D− | 44.9% | 19.5% | 21.9% | CDC place |
| Springdale | D− | 44.8% | 18.5% | 21.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Irwin adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Irwin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Irwin is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 24; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Irwin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Irwin | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.6%28.7–36.7 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18–22.8 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.7–23.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%39.1–51 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.5%17.4–21.8 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%39.8–47.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41%37.4–44.8 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30.7–36.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.7 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.8%11.2–14.6 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 29.1%24.8–33.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%18.8–25.2 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.7%34.9–44.8 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%10.9–15.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43%37.8–48.2 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.9%15.9–22.5 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.3–83.4 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.4%44.9–51.9 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81.1–85.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%78.1–82.9 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.1%54.5–63.6 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%63.8–77.9 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.3–29.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%30.6–39.4 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%24.5–31.9 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34%29.6–38.4 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.3%20.3–26.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.4%15.3–19.7 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.7%13.7–17.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.2%22.5–30.2 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%39.6–48.7 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%21.7–27.6 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%18.6–24 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.3%13.4–17.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 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 Irwin
Is Irwin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Irwin is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Irwin?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.1% and 51%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Irwin?
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center in Lancaster, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Irwin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Irwin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.9–22.5%), 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 Irwin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Irwin.
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.