Photo: Pompusmaximus Brad West · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, St. George is healthier than 63%
St. George differs from South Carolina on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for St. George. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in St. George
Stroke, COPD and heart disease run high in St. George
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.7%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. 1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.4%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.7%, vs 6.8% across South Carolina. In all, St. George runs above South Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More St. George adults get no exercise
36.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.8% across South Carolina. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in St. George
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.4%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (13.3% vs 8.9%) and no reliable transportation (12.7% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 19.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
St. George is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, St. George is healthier than 9%. Against the 945 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 63%. 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 St. George’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind St. George’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. George is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 44% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). St. George’s median household income is $33,125; among the 945 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 63%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where St. George compares well: binge drinking, 11.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 85.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 St. George adults…
St. George runs above SC on 10 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.5% of St. George adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near St. George
1 community health center in St. George, 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 St. George; ≈ 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 St. George adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How St. George adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 St. George 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.
St. George and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | D | 41% | 21.6% | 18.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of St. George adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for St. George
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, St. George is better than South Carolina on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside St. George’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | St. George | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30%26.2–34.3 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.7–21.6 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%35.1–47.3 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 21.6%19.2–24.4 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.7%44.9–52.8 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42%38.2–46.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.2%31.9–38.7 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.4 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.4%10.7–14.4 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.3%15.4–21.4 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5%15.5–21.7 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.3%31.5–41.7 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.7–14 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%35.8–46.4 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.8%11.8–18.1 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84%81.2–86.4 | 80.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.8%48.2–55.3 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.4–89 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.1%83–86.9 | 80.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%59.9–69.1 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%67.2–80.3 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%18.9–25.2 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28.4–37.3 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.9–29.3 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.4%22.3–30.8 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.1%15.3–21.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.3–15.3 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.7%10.8–14.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.5%15.9–23 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4%35.8–45.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.9%21.8–28.4 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%14.8–19.7 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.6–11 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.7–8.8 | 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 St. George
Is St. George a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. George is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D 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 St. George?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.1% and 47.3%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to St. George?
Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, 19.0 miles in a straight line from St. George’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in St. George have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–18.1%), 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 St. George 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 St. George.
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.