Photo: John Trainor · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Jackson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Jackson trails Georgia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jackson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jackson
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Jackson
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.5%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.6%, vs 6.1% across Georgia. In all, Jackson runs above Georgia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Jackson is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Jackson is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Jackson adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.3%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
More Jackson adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (40.1%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is vision loss: 9% vs 5.6%. 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 Jackson’s likely range.
What’s behind Jackson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #232 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Jackson’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 38.3% of adults, against 26.5% across Georgia and 24.7% 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). Jackson’s median household income is $46,191; among the 4,408 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Jackson adults…
Jackson runs above GA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jackson adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Care in and near Jackson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Jackson, 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 Jackson; ≈ 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 Jackson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Jackson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Jackson runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Jackson 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.
27.3% of Jackson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Jackson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | D− | 42.3% | 17.9% | 20.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Jackson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jackson is better than Georgia on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Jackson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jackson | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.6%26.1–33.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.9–20.4 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%18–22.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.3%33.9–51 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.9%15.8–20.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.4%41.1–49.8 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.2–42.9 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3%27–33.6 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.3–12 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%5–6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.3%22.3–31.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%17.6–23.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%32.9–44.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.2–15.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.9%34.1–49 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.7%14.1–19.5 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.9–82.7 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%46.9–54.9 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.2–86.2 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%77.3–82 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%56.8–67.8 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.9%64.9–81 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%17.6–24.2 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.8%33.3–44.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.8%24.1–32 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.8%25.2–32.7 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.6%19–24.5 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%23.9–30.8 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.1%35.4–45.2 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.8%19.2–24.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17–21.8 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9%8–10 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.5%11.9–15.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 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 Jackson
Is Jackson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #232 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jackson?
CDC estimates 42.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 51%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jackson?
Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center in Jackson, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Jackson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jackson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–19.5%), 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 Jackson 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 Jackson.
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.