Salem, SC health
Salem differs from South Carolina on 15 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (84.8% vs 80.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (13.4% vs 7.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for SalemNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 177 people are less certain, so we show Salem's figures without a grade.
How Salem 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 Salem adults…
Bars show Salem; 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 Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Carolina.
How Salem 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.
11.1% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.5% across South Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Salem adults live with a disability (South Carolina 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: South Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem 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 Salem. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Salem
| Measure | Salem | Margin | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 45.2% | 41–49.5% | 38.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 45.5% | 41.1–49.8% | 38.1% | worse |
| Obesity | 39.7% | 33.4–46.3% | 35.8% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 40.3% | 36.5–44.2% | 28.5% | worse |
| Depression | 26.1% | 22.5–29.9% | 22.3% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 18% | 14.8–21.8% | 13.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.2% | 9–11.6% | 9.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12.4% | 11.1–13.9% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 18.2% | 15.6–21% | 13.9% | worse |
| COPD | 13.4% | 10.9–16.1% | 7.5% | worse |
| Heart disease | 11.4% | 9.8–13% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.9% | 5–6.8% | 3.9% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18% | 14.3–21.9% | 13.3% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.4% | 11.9–17.3% | 15.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 33.2% | 27.2–38.9% | 25.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1% | 28.9–39.7% | 35.8% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.9% | 79.9–85.7% | 80.6% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 62.3% | 58.8–65.8% | 63.1% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 88.3% | 86.1–90.4% | 86.9% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.3% | 61.2–71.2% | 69.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 72.6% | 65–79.7% | 77.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 84.8% | 82.2–87.2% | 80.2% | better |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 8.4–15.7% | 11.8% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29.5% | 25–34.5% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 21.3% | 17.6–25.5% | 23.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.5% | 14.2–18.7% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 27.1% | 22.3–32.3% | 20.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 19.5% | 16.6–22.5% | 14% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 17.5% | 13–22.3% | 17.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.8% | 8.3–13.4% | 13.3% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.7% | 6.2–9.3% | 8.9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.2% | 6.6–10.1% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.1% | 8–14.6% | 10.5% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.5% | 34–45.1% | 31.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 23% | 19.2–27.1% | 15.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.4% | 13.7–19.3% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4% | 7% | |
| Vision | 7.6% | 6.2–9.1% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.4% | 5.2–7.7% | 4.3% | |
| Errands alone | 11.9% | 9.9–14.2% | 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.