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Douglas City Hall 2022Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−Health Grade
Health in Douglas · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Douglas is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns

Douglas differs from Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Douglas. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Douglas

Douglas is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health

On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Douglas is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓

COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Douglas

1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.6%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Diabetes is also above the state: 18.9%, vs 13.3% across Georgia. In all, Douglas runs above Georgia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Douglas

1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.6%), about twice the Georgia rate. Utility shut-off threats (18.5% vs 9.6%) and no reliable transportation (17.4% vs 9.5%) are higher too. 32.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

More Douglas adults live with a disability

42.8% of adults live with a disability, vs 29.6% across Georgia. The biggest difference is vision loss: 10.3% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓

Douglas is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Douglas is healthier than 2%. Against the 1,163 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 22%. 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 Douglas’ likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Douglas’ grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Douglas is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #241 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Douglas’ estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 18.9% of adults, against 13.3% across Georgia and 12% nationally.

D−Self-rated health32% · GA 20.3% · U.S. 19.4%
D−Physical distress18.5% · GA 13.5% · U.S. 13%
D−Mental distress21.2% · GA 16.9% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity42.2% · GA 35.2% · U.S. 32.9%
D−Diabetes18.9% · GA 13.3% · U.S. 12%
DSmoking21.4% smoke · GA 13.6% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise38.6% · GA 26.5% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 2%
Less healthyHealthier
Georgia towns we grade (261)Healthier than 8%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $26K–$43K (1,163)Healthier than 22%

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). Douglas’ median household income is $34,408; among the 1,163 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Douglas compares well: binge drinking, 11.8% (U.S. 15.4%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Douglas could be anywhere from D− to D.
A note on the data.property crimes reported to the FBI went from 37 in 2023 to 128 in 2024
A note on the data.2024 figures come from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer; the FBI's published 2024 table doesn't include this department

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Douglas adults…

Douglas runs above GA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Douglas adults have COPD
Georgia: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 9.6–11.8%
Better than GAWorseAbout the sameGeorgia
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 3
Douglas adults worry about having enough food
34.6% · GA 17.7%
Worse than GA
1 in 4
Douglas adults worry about keeping their housing
25.9% · GA 15%
Worse than GA
1 in 5
Douglas adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
18.5% · GA 9.6%
Worse than GA
1 in 6
Douglas adults lack reliable transportation
17.4% · GA 9.5%
Worse than GA

32.8% of Douglas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

42.8%

of Douglas adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs22.5%
Thinking or memory20.5%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone14.6%
Vision10.3%
Dressing or bathing7.7%
Georgia
Getting care

Care in and near Douglas

2 community health centers in Douglas, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERCoffee Regional Medical CenterDouglas · 16.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCoffee Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 16.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouth Central Primary Care CenterDouglas · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
South Central Primary Care Center
5 sites · nearest in Douglas
Sliding-scale feesIn Douglas
Directions to nearest
0.8 mi
Department of Community Health Georgia
2 sites · nearest in Douglas
Sliding-scale feesIn Douglas
Directions to nearest
16.9 mi
Coffee Regional Medical Center
Douglas · ★★★★★
ER
23.4 mi
Bacon County Hospital
Alma · not rated
Rural critical access
24.3 mi
Irwin County Hospital
Ocilla · not rated
ER
26.5 mi
Dorminy Medical Center
Fitzgerald · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Douglas itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Douglas itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Douglas itself

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 Douglas; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia

Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.

Get no exercise 38.6%GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hours 39.3%GA 38.4%
Binge drink 11.8%GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettes 21.4%GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Douglas, betterDouglas, worseAbout the sameGeorgia
Where Douglas gets moving

5.4 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Douglas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.

80%Yearly checkupGA 78%
46%Dentist visitGA 59%
83%Cholesterol checkGA 87%
61%Colon screeningGA 64%
74%MammogramGA 76%
79%Taking BP medsGA 77%
1 in 5
working-age adults has no health insurance
Douglas 19.3% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Mind & connection

How Douglas adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, Douglas runs above Georgia.

2 in 5Douglas adults feel lonely
40.9% · GA 37.3% · About the same as GA
3 in 10Douglas adults lack social or emotional support
29.5% · GA 24.6% · Worse than GA
1 in 5Douglas adults have been diagnosed with depression
21% · GA 19% · About the same as GA
1 in 5Douglas adults are in frequent mental distress
21.2% · GA 16.9% · Worse than GA
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Douglas adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Douglas and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
DouglasD−42.2%18.9%21.4%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Every CDC estimate for Douglas

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Douglas is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Douglas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…DouglasGAU.S.vs GA
Overall health
Fair or poor health32%28.8–35.220.3%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)18.5%16.6–20.513.5%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)21.2%19–23.416.9%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity42.2%34.8–49.535.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes18.9%16.8–2113.3%12%Worse
High blood pressure45.6%41.6–49.437.4%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.5%34.6–42.536.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30%27–3324.6%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.9%10.6–13.310.1%9.9%Worse
Cancer, other than skin cancer6.5%5.9–7.17%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease8.4%7.7–9.36.1%6.4%Worse
COPD10.6%9.6–11.86.5%6.3%Worse
Stroke5.6%5.2–6.13.6%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)22.9%19.6–27.214.5%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes21.4%18.9–2413.6%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work38.6%33.9–43.426.5%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking11.8%9.7–14.214.5%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours39.3%33.5–46.438.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)19.3%17.1–21.613.1%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year79.7%76.5–82.778.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year46.1%42.9–50.259.2%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years83.4%81.4–85.286.8%87.1%Worse
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79%76.6–81.277.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)60.5%55.8–66.164.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)74.2%67.5–81.575.8%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21%18–24.219%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely40.9%35.5–46.537.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support29.5%25.6–33.624.6%23.6%Worse
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food34.6%31.1–38.517.7%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing25.9%23–28.915%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off18.5%16.4–20.79.6%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation17.4%15.6–19.49.5%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)32.8%29.6–36.114.2%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability42.8%38.3–47.129.6%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs22.5%20.2–24.914%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering20.5%18.4–22.614.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty7.8%7–8.76.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty10.3%9.4–11.25.6%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone14.6%13.2–168.7%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing7.7%7.1–8.44.2%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 Douglas

Is Douglas a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Douglas is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #241 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Douglas?

CDC estimates 42.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 49.5%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Douglas?

Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, 16.9 miles in a straight line from Douglas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Douglas have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 19.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.1–21.6%), 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 Douglas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Douglas.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.