Photo: Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 4.0Where Salem residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Salem, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Salem
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.4%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11.4%), vs 6.8% across South Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 5.9%, vs 3.9% across South Carolina. In all, Salem runs above South Carolina on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
In Salem, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 11.6% of working-age adults are uninsured (South Carolina 11.8%), yet 27.1% say their health is fair or poor, vs 20.1% across the state. Checkups ↓
More Salem adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.2%), vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Salem’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs above SC on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
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.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem 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 Salem; ≈ 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 Salem adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Salem runs above South Carolina.
3 in 10 Salem 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.
11.1% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Salem
Why doesn’t Salem have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Salem.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca, 13.3 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem.
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. 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.