Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Fitzgerald is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Fitzgerald differs from Georgia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fitzgerald. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fitzgerald
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Fitzgerald
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (6%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.5%, vs 13.3% across Georgia. In all, Fitzgerald runs above Georgia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fitzgerald is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Fitzgerald is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Fitzgerald
45.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 26.2% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Fitzgerald, and more people treating it
48.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 80.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Fitzgerald’s likely range.
What’s behind Fitzgerald’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fitzgerald is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #242 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Fitzgerald’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 20.5% of adults, against 13.3% across Georgia and 12% nationally.
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). Fitzgerald’s median household income is $37,323; among the 1,696 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 16%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Fitzgerald compares well: binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Fitzgerald adults…
Fitzgerald runs above GA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fitzgerald adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Fitzgerald
1 community health center in Fitzgerald, 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 Fitzgerald; ≈ 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.
4.6 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Fitzgerald adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Fitzgerald runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Fitzgerald 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.
31.5% of Fitzgerald adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Fitzgerald and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald | D− | 43.5% | 20.5% | 21.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fitzgerald adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fitzgerald
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fitzgerald is better than Georgia on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Fitzgerald’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fitzgerald | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.2%28–34.6 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.6–20.9 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18–22.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.5%35.2–52 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.5%18.2–23 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.4%44.1–52.8 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.9–44.7 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%28–35 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8–9.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%9.8–12.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.5–6.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.2%22.1–30.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.7%18.9–24.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.9%34–44.2 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.5–14.3 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.6%38.8–52.8 | 38.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17%14.8–19.6 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77.2–83.7 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.4%41.6–49.2 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83.2–86.8 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.7%78.3–83 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%55.4–65.8 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%65.6–80.7 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.9–23.5 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.2%34.6–45.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%25–32.7 | 24.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.4%28.7–35.9 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.4%21.5–27.1 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.8%15.8–19.9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.3%14.5–18.1 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.5%28.4–34.6 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%36–45.2 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.9%20.5–25.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%17.4–21.6 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%7–8.8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.2–10.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 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 Fitzgerald
Is Fitzgerald a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fitzgerald is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #242 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fitzgerald?
CDC estimates 43.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 52%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fitzgerald?
Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Fitzgerald’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Fitzgerald have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.8–19.6%), 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 Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald.
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.