Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Darien is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Darien differs from Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Darien. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Darien
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Darien
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.2%), about twice the Georgia rate. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.4%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 6.1% across Georgia. In all, Darien runs above Georgia on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 33 miles from Darien
The closest emergency room is Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup, 32.6 miles away in a straight line. And 12.8% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.5% across Georgia. For everyday care, Coastal Community Health Services is closer (3.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Darien is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Darien is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Darien, and more people treating it
50.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 83.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
More Darien adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (40.5%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is trouble walking: 24.2% vs 14%. Disability ↓
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 Darien’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Darien’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darien is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 27% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Darien’s median household income is $57,000; among the 8,037 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Darien compares well: binge drinking, 11.2% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Darien adults…
Darien runs above GA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Darien is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Darien as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Darien
No hospital or community health center in Darien 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 Darien; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Darien adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Darien adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Darien adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
2 in 5 Darien 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.
23.7% of Darien adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Darien and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darien | D | 41.8% | 20.9% | 19.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Darien
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Darien is better than Georgia on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Darien’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Darien | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.7%26.5–35 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%16.7–21.9 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.2–20.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%33.5–50.1 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.9%18.3–23.6 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.8%46.3–55.2 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.3%39.7–48.9 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.2%32.3–40 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.3–14.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.1%17.9–24.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.4–23.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.3%31.4–43.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%9.1–13.5 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%31.9–46.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%11.5–17.7 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82%78.7–84.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.8%45.9–53.7 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.6–89.2 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.7%81.4–85.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.9%60.4–71.1 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%67.9–82.6 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%17.4–24 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.8%32–43.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%21.8–30 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.2%20.9–29.7 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.1%15.2–21.1 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11–14.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.7%19.9–27.9 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%35.2–45.8 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.2%20.8–27.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.5–20.5 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.5–11 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.3%8–10.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%11.5–15.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.5–8.7 | 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 Darien
Is Darien a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darien is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Darien?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 50.1%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Darien have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–17.7%), 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 Darien 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 Darien.
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.