BENNETTSVILLE — Nearly four in 10 adults in Marlboro County report feeling lonely, making it the second-loneliest county in South Carolina, according to a new study analyzing federal health data.
The study, conducted by CBD company Mood.com using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, found that 38.8% of adults in Marlboro County say they feel lonely always, usually or sometimes. The county ranked second in South Carolina behind neighboring Allendale County, where 38.9% of adults reported loneliness.
Nationally, Marlboro County ranked 34th among nearly 2,000 counties included in the analysis, placing it among the most lonely communities in the United States.
Researchers examined CDC PLACES estimates covering 1,996 counties across 39 states and more than 184 million adults. Counties were ranked based on the share of adults who reported feelings of loneliness.
Several rural South Carolina counties clustered near the top of the state’s rankings. Dillon County ranked third at 38%, followed by Williamsburg County at 37.8% and Bamberg and Marion counties, each at 37.4%.
The study also measured the share of adults lacking social support. In Marlboro County, 32.9% of adults reported not having adequate social support, one of the highest rates in the state.
Overall, South Carolina ranked 29th among the 39 states included in the study. Statewide, 32.7% of adults reported feeling lonely, a figure that was below the national average of 34.9%.
At the other end of the spectrum, Beaufort County reported the lowest loneliness rate in South Carolina at 28.2%. Greenville County and Charleston County also ranked among the state’s least lonely counties.
In a statement released with the study, David Charles, CEO of Mood.com, said loneliness often varies widely from one community to another.
“What these figures show is how local loneliness is,” Charles said. “Two counties that sit side by side can be several percentage points apart, so this is not something that gets solved at a national level.”
The data used in the study came from the CDC’s 2025 release of its PLACES program and reflects estimates for adults age 18 and older. Researchers analyzed the percentage of residents who reported feeling lonely “always, usually or sometimes.”