Photo: PghPhxNfk · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Columbus as a whole is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Columbus trails Georgia on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
Making ends meet is harder in Columbus
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.1%), vs 17.7% across Georgia. Utility shut-off threats (14% vs 9.6%) and no reliable transportation (13.2% vs 9.5%) are higher too. 22.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke and COPD run high in Columbus
1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.7%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. In all, Columbus runs above Georgia on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Columbus sleeps less
43.6% of adults sleep under 7 hours a night, vs 38.4% across Georgia. Habits ↓
Columbus has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 1 community health center are inside Columbus. Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare. Getting care ↓
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 Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns, #162 of 261 in Georgia. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 41% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Columbus’ median household income is $58,073; among the 8,366 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Georgia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Columbus is healthier than 38% of graded towns, against 19% nationally.
At 202,171 residents, Columbus is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.2% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Care in and near Columbus
3 hospitals and 1 community health center in Columbus, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Columbus; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs above GA on 6 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.
73 miles of trails across 20 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Columbus adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Columbus runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Columbus 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.
Columbus and the towns around it
Columbus’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | C− | 40.3% | 15.5% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Cusseta | B+ | 33.2% | 7.4% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Box Springs | — | — | — | — |
Box Springs: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than Georgia on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.9%22.8–27.8 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.4–16.7 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.4–21.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.3%35.5–47 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.5%14–17.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.8%37.8–45 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32.9–40.2 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%24.2–29.8 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.8 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.9–7.2 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%7.1–8.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.9–21.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.5–18.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%27.2–34.8 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.8–17 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.6%38.8–48.7 | 38.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.8%13.2–16.9 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%76.3–82.5 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.7%52.5–59 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%84.1–87.5 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%77.2–82 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.2%60.8–69.5 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%70.9–82.9 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%17.6–23.6 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.5%34–43 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%23.8–30.5 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.1%21.8–26.5 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14%12.5–15.6 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%11.9–14.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.2%20.3–24.3 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%30.1–37.4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%15.1–18.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%15–18.5 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.7–7.2 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%7.1–8.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%10.1–12.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 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 Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #162 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus?
CDC estimates 40.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 47%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown in Columbus, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–16.9%), 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 Columbus more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbus.
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.