Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Blackshear is healthier than 73%
Blackshear differs from Georgia on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Blackshear. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Blackshear
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Blackshear
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.5%), vs 7% across Georgia. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.2%, vs 6.1% across Georgia. In all, Blackshear runs above Georgia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Blackshear looks healthier next to Georgia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 41% of the 261 Georgia towns we grade, but 21% of towns nationwide. Much of Georgia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Blackshear
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), vs 13.6% across Georgia. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Blackshear, and more people treating it
42% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 80.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Blackshear is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Blackshear is healthier than 21%. Against the 2,565 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 73%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Georgia figure falls outside Blackshear’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Blackshear’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blackshear is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #155 of 261 in Georgia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 50% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Blackshear’s median household income is $40,670; among the 2,565 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 73%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Georgia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Blackshear is healthier than 41% of graded towns, against 21% nationally.
Where Blackshear compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Blackshear adults…
Blackshear runs above GA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Blackshear adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Blackshear
No hospital or community health center in Blackshear 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 Blackshear; ≈ 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).
How Blackshear adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
4 in 10 Blackshear 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.
16.1% of Blackshear adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Blackshear and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackshear | C− | 36.2% | 15.3% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Blackshear adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Blackshear
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Blackshear is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Blackshear’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Blackshear | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.8–26.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.4–18.4 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.1–20.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%28.2–44.6 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.3%13.3–17.4 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42%37.5–46.3 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.8%36.2–45.4 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32%28.4–35.5 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.7–22.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.5–19.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31%26.2–36.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%10.8–16.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%30.1–43.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%11–15.2 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76–82.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.8%53–60.5 | 59.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%85–88.4 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.1–83.1 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%61.9–71.2 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%65.1–80.1 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.2–25.2 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%31.6–42.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.4–27.6 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.1%15.5–21.1 | 17.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.1%12–16.3 | 15% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8–10.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.4–11 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%13.7–18.8 | 14.2% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%31.6–40.9 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%16.3–21 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.5–18.3 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%6–7.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.6–12 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.2% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Georgia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Blackshear
Is Blackshear a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blackshear is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #155 of 261 in Georgia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Blackshear?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 44.6%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Blackshear?
Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Blackshear’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Blackshear have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–15.2%), against 13.1% across Georgia.
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 Blackshear more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Blackshear.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Georgia 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.