Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Harlem is healthier than 94%
Harlem beats Georgia on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harlem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harlem
Harlem is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Harlem is healthier than 59%. Against the 4,412 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 94%. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Harlem adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Georgia. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Harlem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Harlem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlem is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #68 of 261 in Georgia. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 67% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Harlem’s median household income is $46,197; among the 4,412 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Georgia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Harlem is healthier than 74% of graded towns, against 58% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.7% of Harlem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Out of every 100 Harlem adults…
Harlem runs below GA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Harlem
No hospital or community health center in Harlem 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 Harlem; ≈ 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Harlem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Harlem adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
4 in 10 Harlem 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.
Harlem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem | B | 34.4% | 11.5% | 13.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Harlem adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harlem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harlem is better than Georgia on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Harlem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harlem | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.3–19.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.7–14.8 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.4–20.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29.5–40.5 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10.2–13.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%32.7–39.5 | 37.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%32.5–39.5 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.1%21.7–26.9 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9.2–11.6 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.7–5.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.4–11.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%11.6–16 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.7%22.1–29.8 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.9–18.3 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%30.1–40.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.9–12.9 | 13.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%75–81.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%59–65.9 | 59.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.2–88 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%72.9–77.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.8–72.1 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%72–84 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.7–24.8 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.6%32.1–41.3 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.1–26.8 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.7%11.6–16.1 | 17.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.5–14.3 | 15% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.7–9 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.8–9 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.7%8.9–12.5 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.9%23.7–30.7 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.4–13.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.7–16.3 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.1–9.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.8 | 4.2% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Harlem
Is Harlem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlem is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #68 of 261 in Georgia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harlem?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 40.5%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harlem?
University Mcduffie County Regional Medical Center in Thomson, 12.5 miles in a straight line from Harlem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Harlem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.9%), 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 Harlem more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Harlem.
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.