Henry Asbury House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Clarkesville is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns
Clarkesville differs from Georgia on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clarkesville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clarkesville
Cancer runs high in Clarkesville
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7% across Georgia. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Clarkesville adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Georgia. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Clarkesville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Clarkesville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarkesville is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 85% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). Clarkesville’s median household income is $73,798; among the 10,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Clarkesville adults…
Clarkesville runs below GA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Clarkesville is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Clarkesville as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.2% of Clarkesville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Care in and near Clarkesville
No hospital or community health center in Clarkesville 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 Clarkesville; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
1.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Clarkesville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Clarkesville adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
4 in 10 Clarkesville 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.
Clarkesville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkesville | B+ | 29.5% | 10.9% | 12.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clarkesville adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clarkesville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clarkesville is better than Georgia on 7 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Clarkesville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clarkesville | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%14.5–20.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.4–15.5 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–19.1 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%22.6–37.2 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.2–12.6 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%30.7–38.9 | 37.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%34.3–43 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.6–30.1 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.4 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.3–7.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%5.5–8.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.8–3.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.1%7.4–11.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%10.1–15.4 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%19–28.3 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.7–18.7 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.8%26.8–39.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%8.7–14.4 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.1–81.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.1%63.7–70.4 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%84.7–89.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.3–80.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%60.1–70 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%70.3–83.8 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.4–25.2 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%31.1–42.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.4–26.1 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%9–14.6 | 17.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8–12 | 15% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.8–6.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.6–8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.2%6.3–10.5 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.1%24.6–33.8 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%10.7–15.7 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14%12–16.4 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%6.7–9.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.8–4 | 4.2% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Clarkesville
Is Clarkesville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarkesville is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clarkesville?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.6% and 37.2%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clarkesville?
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham in Demorest, 3.8 miles in a straight line from Clarkesville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clarkesville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–14.4%), 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 Clarkesville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clarkesville.
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.