Bluffton, SC health
Bluffton differs from South Carolina on 26 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (7.6% vs 13.9%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (10.8% vs 17.4%). Where it trails the state: more binge drinkers (19.6% vs 15.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BlufftonBluffton’s Health Grade: A
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Bluffton is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns and 97% of South Carolina towns.
About what its income would suggest. Bluffton does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Bluffton 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. Bluffton 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.
How Bluffton 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Bluffton adults…
Bars show Bluffton; the black tick is South Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
SC 25.8%
SC 35.8%
SC 15.7%
SC 13.3%
Keeping up with care
Share of Bluffton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Bluffton adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Bluffton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Bluffton adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: South Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Bluffton
No hospital or community health center in Bluffton 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 Bluffton. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Bluffton
| Measure | Bluffton | Margin | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.1% | 29.1–35.2% | 38.5% | better |
| High cholesterol | 37.2% | 34–40.4% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 29.2% | 25–33.5% | 35.8% | better |
| Arthritis | 25.6% | 23.1–28.1% | 28.5% | better |
| Depression | 19.1% | 16.6–21.8% | 22.3% | better |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 7.6% | 6.2–9.2% | 13.9% | better |
| Asthma | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7% | 9.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 10% | 8.8–11.4% | 13.9% | better |
| COPD | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1% | 7.5% | better |
| Heart disease | 5.3% | 4.8–6% | 6.8% | better |
| Stroke | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2% | 3.9% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5% | 8.1–11.1% | 13.3% | better |
| Binge drink | 19.6% | 16.7–22.6% | 15.7% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 16.9% | 14.5–19.8% | 25.8% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31% | 27–35% | 35.8% | better |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 80.5% | 77.5–83.2% | 80.6% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.4% | 66.4–72.1% | 63.1% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 89.2% | 87.7–90.5% | 86.9% | better |
| Colon screening | 70.5% | 66.6–74% | 69.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.5% | 71.3–82.5% | 77.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 80% | 77.3–82.5% | 80.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 8.7–11.6% | 11.8% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 26.1% | 22.6–29.5% | 31.7% | better |
| Lack emotional support | 18.6% | 15.9–21.1% | 23.6% | better |
| Frequent mental distress | 13.6% | 12–15.3% | 16.4% | better |
| Fair or poor health | 12.7% | 11.1–14.5% | 20.1% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6% | 14% | better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.8% | 9.2–12.5% | 17.4% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 9% | 7.7–10.4% | 13.3% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.6% | 4.8–6.4% | 8.9% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 5.7% | 5–6.4% | 8.6% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 5.3% | 4.4–6.2% | 10.5% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.1% | 20.4–26.1% | 31.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 10.3% | 9–11.7% | 15.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11% | 9.8–12.5% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 6% | 5.4–6.8% | 7% | |
| Vision | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2% | 4.3% | |
| Errands alone | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9% | 8.7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.