Photo: JayeeDior12 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Orangeburg is healthier than 66%
Orangeburg differs from South Carolina on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Orangeburg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Orangeburg
Orangeburg is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Orangeburg is healthier than 15%. Against the 2,015 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 66%. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 37 miles from Orangeburg
The closest emergency room is MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown in Columbia, 36.9 miles away in a straight line. And 16.7% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 8.6% across South Carolina. For everyday care, Low Country Health Care System is closer (1.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Orangeburg
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.3%), about twice the South Carolina rate. No reliable transportation (16.7% vs 8.6%) and utility shut-off threats (17.2% vs 8.9%) are higher too. 24.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Orangeburg adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (30.8%), vs 23.6% across South Carolina. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.6%, vs 16.4% across South Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
Orangeburg is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its C− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Wilkinson Heights (D). Around town ↓
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 Orangeburg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Orangeburg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orangeburg is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #123 of 169 in South Carolina. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 47% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Orangeburg’s median household income is $38,635; among the 2,015 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Orangeburg compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.8% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.8% (U.S. 15.4%).
Care in and near Orangeburg
1 community health center in Orangeburg, 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 Orangeburg; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.7% of Orangeburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
How Orangeburg adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Orangeburg runs above South Carolina.
4 in 10 Orangeburg 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.
Orangeburg and the towns around it
Orangeburg has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg | C− | 41.2% | 16.7% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Edisto | D | 45.7% | 20.3% | 18.7% | CDC place |
| Wilkinson Heights | D | 47.4% | 24.4% | 17.9% | CDC place |
| Brookdale | D− | 46.8% | 22.7% | 17.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Orangeburg adults…
Orangeburg runs below SC on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
8.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Orangeburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Orangeburg adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Orangeburg
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Orangeburg is better than South Carolina on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Orangeburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Orangeburg | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%23.9–29.3 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.3–16.6 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.4–21.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.2%35.6–46.8 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.9–18.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.3%38.9–45.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%31–37.4 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27%24.5–29.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–12.8 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.2%20.1–26.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%13.1–17 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32.5%28.6–36.3 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.5–15.2 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%35.9–46.5 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.3%12.1–16.6 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.5–86 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50.8–57.5 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.2–85.5 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%76.4–80.3 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%62.7–71.3 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%69.8–82 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.4–24.5 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%31.8–40.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.8%27.1–34.4 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.3%29.7–37 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.6%20.8–26.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.7%14.8–18.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.7%21.9–27.6 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%33.6–41.2 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%17.1–21 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.7–20.7 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.8 | 7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.6%6–7.3 | 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 Orangeburg
Is Orangeburg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orangeburg is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #123 of 169 in South Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Orangeburg?
CDC estimates 41.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.6% and 46.8%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Orangeburg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–16.6%), 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 Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg.
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.