Photo: w:User:Isipeoria · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Myrtle Beach is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
Myrtle Beach differs from South Carolina on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Myrtle Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Myrtle Beach
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Myrtle Beach
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.8% across South Carolina. Cancer is also above the state: 10.7%, vs 8.6% across South Carolina. In all, Myrtle Beach runs above South Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Myrtle Beach
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), vs 13.3% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in Myrtle Beach has no health insurance
15.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.8% across South Carolina. Checkups ↓
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 Myrtle Beach’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Myrtle Beach’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Myrtle Beach is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #95 of 169 in South Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 61% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Myrtle Beach’s median household income is $60,394; among the 9,029 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few South Carolina towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Myrtle Beach is healthier than 44% of graded towns, against 26% nationally.
Where Myrtle Beach compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Myrtle Beach adults…
Myrtle Beach runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
21 miles of trails across 31 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Myrtle Beach adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Care in and near Myrtle Beach
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach; ≈ 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 Myrtle Beach adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Myrtle Beach 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.
15% of Myrtle Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach and the towns around it
Myrtle Beach’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | C | 34.7% | 16.4% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| North Myrtle Beach | B | 29.7% | 15.9% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Socastee | C+ | 32.3% | 13.3% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Myrtle Beach adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Myrtle Beach
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Myrtle Beach is better than South Carolina on 2 and worse on 16; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Myrtle Beach’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Myrtle Beach | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%22–26.5 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.5–18.8 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.7–19.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.7%30.9–38.5 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.7–18.1 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.5%40.7–46.3 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.8%40.9–46.8 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.9–35.9 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.8–11.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%9–11 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%10–13.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%15–18.9 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28%25.1–31.1 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%12.1–16.3 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7%32.1–39.2 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.7%14–17.5 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%80–84.6 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.9%57.1–62.5 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.4–88.3 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.3%81.2–85.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%65.7–72.4 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%69.5–80 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%19.2–24.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%25.8–32.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.8–25.2 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21%18.8–23.2 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.6%13–16.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%9–11.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15%13.3–16.6 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4%31.5–37.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%16.8–20.4 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.2–17.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.7–7.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.3–11.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–6 | 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 Myrtle Beach
Is Myrtle Beach a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Myrtle Beach is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #95 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Myrtle Beach?
CDC estimates 34.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 38.5%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Myrtle Beach?
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Myrtle Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Myrtle Beach have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14–17.5%), 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 Myrtle Beach more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Myrtle Beach.
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.