Photo: Bill shannon 2001 at English Wikipedia · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ware Shoals is healthier than 59%
Ware Shoals trails South Carolina on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ware Shoals. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ware Shoals
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ware Shoals
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 7.5% across South Carolina. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5.1%), vs 3.9% across South Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.3%, vs 6.8% across South Carolina. In all, Ware Shoals runs above South Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ware Shoals
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.1%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.3% vs 8.9%) and no reliable transportation (11.5% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 17.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Ware Shoals is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ware Shoals is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Ware Shoals is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ware Shoals is healthier than 10%. Against the 1,543 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 59%. 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 Ware Shoals’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Ware Shoals’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ware Shoals is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 30% 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). Ware Shoals’ median household income is $36,622; among the 1,543 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$46K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ware Shoals adults…
Ware Shoals runs above SC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.5% of Ware Shoals adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Care in and near Ware Shoals
1 community health center in Ware Shoals, 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 Ware Shoals; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ware Shoals adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Ware Shoals adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ware Shoals runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Ware Shoals 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.
Ware Shoals and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ware Shoals | D | 38.8% | 16.8% | 19.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ware Shoals adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ware Shoals
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ware Shoals is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Ware Shoals’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ware Shoals | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.4%22.8–30.1 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.2–19.6 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.7–21.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%32.9–45 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.7–18.9 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.4%38.6–46.2 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%34.5–42.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.8%30.6–37 | 28.5% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–12 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.4–12.5 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.5–5.6 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.8%18.1–25.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.4%16.1–22.7 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%27.5–37 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%11.8–17 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%34.7–46.1 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.8%11.3–16.5 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.9%77.9–83.8 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53.3–60.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.5–86.9 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%78.5–83.2 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%58–67.9 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.7–83.6 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22.5–29.5 | 22.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.1%29.5–38.9 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%22.3–29.7 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.1%21.3–29.4 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.5–19.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.3%10.7–14.2 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10–13.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.5%14.5–20.7 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%33.3–42.6 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.4–22.8 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%15.6–20.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.4–13.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.4–7 | 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 Ware Shoals
Is Ware Shoals a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ware Shoals is healthier than 10% 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 Ware Shoals?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 45%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ware Shoals?
Edgefield County Healthcare An Affiliate of Self R in Edgefield, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Ware Shoals’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ware Shoals have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–16.5%), 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 Ware Shoals 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 Ware Shoals.
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.