Photo: KudzuVine · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Seneca is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Seneca trails South Carolina on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Seneca. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Seneca
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Seneca
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 6.8% across South Carolina. In all, Seneca runs above South Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Seneca adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.8%), vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
Seneca is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Seneca is healthier than 21%. Against the 6,473 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 45%. Health Grade ↓
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 Seneca’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Seneca’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seneca is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #106 of 169 in South Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% 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). Seneca’s median household income is $52,022; among the 6,473 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 45%, 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 Seneca is healthier than 38% of graded towns, against 21% nationally.
Out of every 100 Seneca adults…
Seneca runs above SC on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Carolina
Share of adults, with the South Carolina figure marked.
3.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Seneca
1 community health center in Seneca, 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 Seneca; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Seneca adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Seneca adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Seneca 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.
14.3% of Seneca adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Seneca and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Seneca adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Seneca
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Seneca is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Seneca’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Seneca | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.5%21.7–27.4 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.5–18.4 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15–19 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%34.5–47.3 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.4–18.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.9%37–44.7 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%36–44 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%30.1–36.5 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.5–9.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.3 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%13–18.9 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%13–17.5 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%26.5–35.2 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.4–17.8 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%33.1–44.3 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%11–15 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82%79–84.7 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.1%55.6–62.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.7–88 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.1%79.7–84.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%64.9–73.9 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%69.8–82.9 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.5–28.5 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%26.9–35.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%20–26.6 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%18.4–24.2 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%13–17 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.2–12 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.2%9–11.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.4–16.4 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%31.2–39.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%16.7–21.3 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.1–17.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–6.1 | 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 Seneca
Is Seneca a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seneca is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #106 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 45%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Seneca?
CDC estimates 40.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.5% and 47.3%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Seneca?
Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Seneca’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Seneca have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–15%), 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 Seneca 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 Seneca.
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.