New Hope Farm · Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Wellford is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Wellford differs from South Carolina on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wellford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wellford
Dental care lags in Wellford
51.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.1% across South Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 22% have lost all their teeth (South Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Wellford
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.7%), vs 17.4% across South Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 8.9%) and housing insecurity (20.3% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 18.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Wellford adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (29.4%), vs 23.6% across South Carolina. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.1%, vs 16.4% across South Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
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 Wellford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Wellford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wellford is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #135 of 169 in South Carolina. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 29% of U.S. towns); obesity 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). Wellford’s median household income is $57,338; among the 8,129 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Wellford compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Wellford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.5% of Wellford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
How Wellford adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Wellford runs above South Carolina.
1 in 3 Wellford 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.
Out of every 100 Wellford adults…
Wellford runs below SC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wellford
No hospital or community health center in Wellford 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 Wellford; ≈ 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Wellford and the towns around it
Wellford’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wellford adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wellford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wellford is better than South Carolina on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside Wellford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wellford | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%23–28.6 | 20.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.2–17.8 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17–21.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%37.9–48.2 | 35.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.6–18.3 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%38.9–45.5 | 38.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%34.6–41.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%26.6–32 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.2–7.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 7.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5 | 3.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22%18.6–25.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.8–19.4 | 13.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.4%28.6–36.3 | 25.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.2–17 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.1%38.6–47.8 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.3%13.2–17.6 | 11.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.4–82.1 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.2%48.1–54.6 | 63.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%82.5–86.2 | 86.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.4–82 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%60.5–69.1 | 69.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%72.8–83.7 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%21.2–27.3 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%31.6–39.8 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.4%26–33 | 23.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.7%23.5–29.9 | 17.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.3%17.8–22.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%12–15.4 | 8.9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.6%11.1–14 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.5%15.9–20.8 | 10.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%34.2–41.8 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19%17–21.1 | 15.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16.2–20.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10–12.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 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 Wellford
Is Wellford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wellford is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #135 of 169 in South Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wellford?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.9% and 48.2%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wellford?
Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Wellford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wellford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–17.6%), 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 Wellford 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 Wellford.
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.