On CDC estimates, Lakewood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Lakewood 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 Lakewood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lakewood
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Lakewood
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.7%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.1%, vs 13.9% across South Carolina. In all, Lakewood runs above South Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Lakewood is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lakewood is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Lakewood
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.1%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (14.3% vs 8.9%) and no reliable transportation (12.8% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 20.5% 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 Lakewood’s likely range.
What’s behind Lakewood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakewood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #150 of 169 in South Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 21% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Lakewood’s median household income is $56,500; among the 7,884 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lakewood compares well: binge drinking, 12.7% (U.S. 15.4%).
Out of every 100 Lakewood adults…
Lakewood runs above SC on 9 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.
20.5% of Lakewood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near Lakewood
No hospital or community health center in Lakewood 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 Lakewood; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakewood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Lakewood adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lakewood runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Lakewood 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.
Lakewood and the towns around it
Lakewood’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | D | 45.9% | 19.1% | 19.9% | CDC place |
| South Sumter | D− | 51.2% | 23.4% | 19.4% | CDC place |
| Sumter | C | 42.3% | 15.5% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakewood adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lakewood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakewood is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Lakewood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lakewood | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.5%23.9–31.2 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16–20.6 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.5–21.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.9%39.6–52.2 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.1%16.8–21.6 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.3%42.2–50.4 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.4%37.5–45.5 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.6%31.2–38.1 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.1–10.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.1–13.4 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.6%5–6.2 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.4%18.7–26.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%16.8–23.1 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.2%27.5–37.2 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.4–15.2 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43%37.9–48.3 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.8%11.5–16.4 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.5–85.2 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50.6–57.7 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.3–88 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.5%80–84.8 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%62.8–71.7 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67–80.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20–26.9 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.3%29–37.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22–29.1 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.1%23.5–30.8 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%16.8–22 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.3%12.5–16.1 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.5%17.4–23.6 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.3–42.6 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.7%18.9–24.6 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.6–20.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.8 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%10.8–14 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.1–7.9 | 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 Lakewood
Is Lakewood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakewood is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #150 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lakewood?
CDC estimates 45.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.6% and 52.2%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lakewood?
Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, 6.2 miles in a straight line from Lakewood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lakewood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–16.4%), 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 Lakewood 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 Lakewood.
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.