Photo: Evanoco · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kershaw is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Kershaw trails South Carolina on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kershaw. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kershaw
Kershaw is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Kershaw is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Kershaw
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.7%, vs 6.8% across South Carolina. In all, Kershaw runs above South Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kershaw
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.2% vs 8.9%) and no reliable transportation (11.3% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 16.5% 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 Kershaw’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Kershaw’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kershaw is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 23% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Kershaw’s median household income is $68,693; among the 10,415 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Kershaw adults…
Kershaw runs above SC on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.5% of Kershaw adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near Kershaw
2 community health centers in Kershaw, 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 Kershaw; ≈ 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.
0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kershaw adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Kershaw adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kershaw runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Kershaw 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.
Kershaw and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw | D | 40.9% | 17.4% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kershaw adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kershaw
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kershaw is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Kershaw’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kershaw | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.3%23–30 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.6–19.9 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17–21.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%35.1–46.8 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.4%15.3–19.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42%38.4–45.6 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%37.6–44.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.3–36.6 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–9.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.2–12.3 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.7–5.9 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.1%19.3–27.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.1–20.6 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.6%29.2–38.4 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.4–16.4 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.5%34.5–44.7 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%10.6–16.2 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%78.4–84.2 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.8%54.3–61.2 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.7–87.6 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.9%79.5–84.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.8%55.1–64.4 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67.2–80.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.4–28.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%29.3–38.1 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%23–30.4 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24%20.5–28 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.6–19.6 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.2%10.6–13.9 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.8–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%13.9–19.5 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.4%35.2–43.8 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.9%18.3–23.8 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.7–20.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.7–13.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 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 Kershaw
Is Kershaw a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kershaw is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 5%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kershaw?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.1% and 46.8%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kershaw?
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center in Lancaster, 16.5 miles in a straight line from Kershaw’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kershaw have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.6–16.2%), 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 Kershaw 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 Kershaw.
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.