Charlton County Courthouse · Photo: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Folkston is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns
Folkston differs from Georgia on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Folkston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Folkston
Dental care lags in Folkston
45% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 26.1% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓
3 in 10 working-age adults in Folkston have no health insurance
27.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 13.1% across Georgia. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Folkston
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.6%), vs 17.7% across Georgia. Housing insecurity (23.1% vs 15%) and utility shut-off threats (14.4% vs 9.6%) are higher too. 21.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Folkston looks healthier next to Georgia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 35% of the 261 Georgia towns we grade, but 15% of towns nationwide. Much of Georgia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Folkston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Folkston is healthier than 15%. Against the 5,839 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 38%. 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 Folkston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Folkston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Folkston is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #171 of 261 in Georgia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Folkston’s median household income is $50,116; among the 5,839 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 38%, 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 Folkston is healthier than 35% of graded towns, against 15% nationally.
Where Folkston compares well: arthritis, 21.2% (U.S. 25.3%); asthma, 8.5% (U.S. 9.9%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Folkston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.4% of Folkston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Out of every 100 Folkston adults…
Folkston runs below GA on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Folkston residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Folkston
1 community health center in Folkston, 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 Folkston; ≈ 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.
0.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Folkston adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Folkston runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Folkston 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.
Folkston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Folkston adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Folkston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Folkston is better than Georgia on 3 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Folkston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Folkston | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.6%23.6–31.7 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.7 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.7–19 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%34.2–51.4 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14–18.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%33.9–42.6 | 37.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.5%31.2–40.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%18.6–23.9 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.7–7.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%6.1–7.9 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.1%21.9–30.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%14.7–20.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.1%28.3–39.9 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.1–21 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.5%36.2–51.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 27.6%22.3–33 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%68.3–77 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45%41.2–48.9 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%79.2–84.8 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.4%69.2–75.6 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.2%47.6–58.9 | 64.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%61.8–78.1 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.1%13.5–19 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38%32.2–43.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.7%25.2–34.6 | 24.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.6%22.9–33.1 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.1%19.3–27.3 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.4%12.2–16.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.7%11.7–15.9 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.4%18–25.3 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%29.5–39.4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.6–17.9 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.5–19.3 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.5–11.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5–6.4 | 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 Folkston
Is Folkston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Folkston is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #171 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Folkston?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.2% and 51.4%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Folkston?
Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus in Saint Marys, 23.6 miles in a straight line from Folkston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Folkston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 27.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22.3–33%), 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 Folkston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Folkston.
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.