Health · Bamberg

Bamberg, SC health

Bamberg differs from South Carolina on 20 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (12.4% vs 15.7%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (82.8% vs 80.2%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (24.5% vs 13.9%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Bamberg
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Bamberg’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Bamberg is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, and than 32% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressC+Mental distressDObesityD-DiabetesCSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 13%
Less healthyHealthier
South Carolina towns we grade (266)Healthier than 30%
Towns with similar incomes, $37K–$62K (5,288)Healthier than 32%

Better than its income would suggest. Bamberg is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Bamberg could be anywhere from D− to C+.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in South Carolina ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Bamberg with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Bamberg uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Bamberg compares with South Carolina

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Bamberg adults…

47 of every 100 Bamberg adults have high blood pressure
South Carolina: 39 in 100 · worse · margin 42.5–50.9%

Bars show Bamberg; the black tick is South Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Bamberg, betterBamberg, worseToo close to callSouth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults 32.3% Bamberg
SC 25.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 41.2% Bamberg
SC 35.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults 12.4% Bamberg
SC 15.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 16.5% Bamberg
SC 13.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Bamberg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.

83%
Yearly checkup
SC 81%
53%
Dentist visit
SC 63%
87%
Cholesterol check
SC 87%
65%
Colon screening
SC 69%
76%
Mammogram
SC 78%
83%
Taking BP meds
SC 80%
1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bamberg 14% · South Carolina 1 in 8 (11.8%)
Mind & connection

How Bamberg adults are doing

1 in 3Bamberg adults feel lonely
35.9% · South Carolina 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 5Bamberg adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.7% · South Carolina 22.3% · too close to call
1 in 3Bamberg adults lack social or emotional support
29.1% · South Carolina 23.6% · worse
1 in 6Bamberg adults are in frequent mental distress
17.9% · South Carolina 16.4% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Bamberg adults worry about having enough food
27.8% · SC 17.4% · worse
1 in 5
Bamberg adults worry about keeping their housing
20.1% · SC 13.3% · worse
1 in 7
Bamberg adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
14.1% · SC 8.9% · worse
1 in 8
Bamberg adults lack reliable transportation
13.1% · SC 8.6% · worse

19.4% of Bamberg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.

Disability

Living with a disability

39.4%

of Bamberg adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs21.8%
Thinking or memory17.3%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone12.3%
Vision8.5%
Dressing or bathing6.7%

Black tick: South Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Bamberg

1 community health center in Bamberg, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERAllendale County HospitalFairfax · 26.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyColleton Medical Center★★★★★ · 33.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLow Country Health Care SystemBamberg · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
Low Country Health Care System
4 sites · nearest in Bamberg
Sliding-scale feesIn Bamberg
Directions to nearest
6.6 mi
Family Health Centers
3 sites · nearest in Denmark
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
26.3 mi
Allendale County Hospital
Fairfax · not rated
ERRural critical access
30.9 mi
Hampton Regional Medical Center
Varnville · not rated
ER
33.4 mi
Colleton Medical Center
Walterboro · ★★★★★
ER
46.3 mi
Aiken Regional Medical Center
Aiken · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careBamberg's county is a federal shortage area.Bamberg County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careBamberg's county is a federal shortage area.Bamberg/Calhoun/Orangeburg Counties · need score 10 of 25
! Mental healthBamberg's county is a federal shortage area.Orangeburg Area MHC · need score 18 of 25

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 Bamberg. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Bamberg
MeasureBambergMarginSouth Carolina
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure46.8%42.5–50.9%38.5%worse
High cholesterol39.8%35.5–43.9%38.1%about the same
Obesity42.1%34.5–49.9%35.8%about the same
Arthritis33.3%30–36.7%28.5%worse
Depression20.7%17.6–23.9%22.3%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)24.5%20.6–28.7%13.9%worse
Asthma11.2%9.9–12.5%9.6%worse
Cancer (not skin)8.2%7.4–9%8.6%about the same
Diabetes19%16.8–21.3%13.9%worse
COPD9.9%8.5–11.3%7.5%worse
Heart disease8.6%7.7–9.6%6.8%worse
Stroke5.7%5.2–6.3%3.9%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.5%14–19.2%13.3%worse
Binge drink12.4%10.1–14.8%15.7%better
Get no exercise32.3%27.5–37.3%25.8%worse
Sleep under 7 hours41.2%34.2–48.2%35.8%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup83.3%80.1–85.9%80.6%about the same
Dentist visit52.7%48.7–56.4%63.1%worse
Cholesterol check86.5%84.5–88.3%86.9%about the same
Colon screening65.4%60.2–70.1%69.3%about the same
Mammogram75.7%68–82%77.6%about the same
Taking BP meds82.8%80.7–84.8%80.2%better
No health insurance14%11.4–16.8%11.8%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35.9%30.7–41.4%31.7%about the same
Lack emotional support29.1%25–33.3%23.6%worse
Frequent mental distress17.9%15.9–20%16.4%about the same
Fair or poor health27.2%23.7–30.7%20.1%worse
Frequent physical distress16.8%14.7–18.9%14%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity27.8%23.7–31.8%17.4%worse
Housing insecurity20.1%17.1–23%13.3%worse
Utility shut-off threat14.1%12.2–16.1%8.9%worse
No reliable transportation13.1%11.3–14.9%8.6%worse
Receive SNAP19.4%16.3–22.5%10.5%
Disability
Any disability39.4%34.7–44.1%31.5%
Walking or climbing stairs21.8%19–24.6%15.4%
Thinking or memory17.3%15.2–19.5%14.3%
Hearing7.8%6.9–8.7%7%
Vision8.5%7.5–9.5%5.6%
Dressing or bathing6.7%5.9–7.5%4.3%
Errands alone12.3%10.7–13.8%8.7%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Bamberg door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the South Carolina figure falls inside it, we don't call Bamberg better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Bamberg directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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