Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Oakland is healthier than 72%
Oakland beats South Carolina on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oakland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oakland
What’s behind Oakland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oakland is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 74% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 29%).
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). Oakland’s median household income is $68,778; among the 10,437 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 72%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Oakland adults…
Oakland runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Oakland residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across South Carolina. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Oakland
No hospital or community health center in Oakland 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 Oakland; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oakland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Oakland adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Oakland 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.
11.3% of Oakland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Oakland and the towns around it
Oakland has the best Health Grade of the 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oakland adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oakland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oakland is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Oakland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oakland | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16–21.8 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.3–14.8 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.4–45 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.4–14.8 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.9–40.9 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%32–39.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%24–29.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.5–7.6 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 3.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.3–15.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%9.9–14.6 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%20–27.9 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.1–17.4 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%34.9–45.1 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%9.1–14.1 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.2–84.2 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%59.1–65.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.3–88.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.8–81.5 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.6–74.7 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%72.4–84.3 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%18–24.2 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%29.9–38.7 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.3–28.4 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.4%14.9–21.7 | 17.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.3–17.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.8%8.2–11.3 | 8.9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%7.9–11 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%8.8–13.7 | 10.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.2–34.3 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.3–16.5 | 15.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.6–16.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.6–7.3 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.4–10.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 4.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Oakland
Is Oakland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oakland is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B 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 Oakland?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.4% and 45%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oakland?
Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Oakland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oakland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–14.1%), 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 Oakland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oakland.
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.