Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Columbia is healthier than 78%
On every measure CDC estimates, West Columbia looks like South Carolina as a whole.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Columbia
What’s behind West Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Columbia is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #63 of 169 in South Carolina. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 68% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). West Columbia’s median household income is $56,912; among the 7,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 78%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few South Carolina towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state West Columbia is healthier than 63% of graded towns, against 48% nationally.
Out of every 100 West Columbia adults…
On every condition, West Columbia is about the same as South Carolina. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Columbia
1 hospital and 1 community health center in West Columbia, 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 West Columbia; ≈ 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.
1.7 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How West Columbia adults are doing
About the same as South Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 West Columbia 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.
10.6% of West Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
West Columbia and the towns around it
West Columbia’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Columbia | B− | 36.2% | 13.3% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Oak Grove | B | 36.2% | 12% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Columbia | B− | 34.4% | 12.1% | 13% | CDC place |
| Springdale | C | 37.8% | 15.1% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Cayce | B− | 36.4% | 11.9% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Lexington | A− | 32.7% | 10.3% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Seven Oaks | B | 36.6% | 13% | 11.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Columbia adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Columbia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Columbia is better than South Carolina on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Carolina figure falls inside West Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Columbia | SC | U.S. | vs SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.6–23.3 | 20.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.6–18.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%31.5–40.8 | 35.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.7–14.9 | 13.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.3%35.2–41.4 | 38.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34.6–41 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%26.1–31.2 | 28.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 9.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 7.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.2%10.2–14.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 13.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%24.7–31.6 | 25.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%12.1–16.7 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%31–39.6 | 35.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%11–14.5 | 11.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%79.2–84.4 | 80.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60%57.1–63.3 | 63.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.6–87.8 | 86.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%77.3–81.8 | 80.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%66.6–74.4 | 69.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%65.4–78.1 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%21.1–27.1 | 22.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.7%26.2–33.6 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%18.9–24.6 | 23.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.4%15.3–19.9 | 17.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.4–14.9 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.8%7.7–10 | 8.9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.6%9.2–12.3 | 10.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8%28.4–35.2 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%14–17.6 | 15.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.8–15.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.7 | 7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.9–4.8 | 4.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 West Columbia
Is West Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Columbia is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #63 of 169 in South Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Columbia?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 40.8%, against 35.8% across South Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Columbia?
Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, 0.5 miles in a straight line from West Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–14.5%), 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 West Columbia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Columbia.
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.