Jefferson Historic District · Photo: Hhoschton · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Jefferson is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Jefferson differs from Georgia on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jefferson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson
Binge drinking is the habit Jefferson doesn’t win on
17.9% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Georgia. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Jefferson’s lead shrinks
Jefferson is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 7,157 towns with similar household incomes ($82K–$137K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Jefferson adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Georgia. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Jefferson
Jefferson runs below Georgia on diabetes (9.9% vs 13.3%), stroke (2.8% vs 3.6%) and heart disease (5.1% vs 6.1%). Conditions ↓
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 Jefferson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Jefferson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns, #41 of 261 in Georgia. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 56%.
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). Jefferson’s median household income is $109,828; among the 7,157 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$137K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
4.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Out of every 100 Jefferson adults…
Jefferson runs below GA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Jefferson residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Jefferson
No hospital or community health center in Jefferson 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 Jefferson; ≈ 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 Jefferson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Jefferson adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
1 in 3 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson and the towns around it
Jefferson has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | A− | 31.6% | 9.9% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Pendergrass | B+ | 31.7% | 9.2% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Arcade | C+ | 33.9% | 12.2% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jefferson adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson is better than Georgia on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Jefferson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.1%14.1–18.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%11–14 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.6%24.4–38.4 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.5–11.2 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%27.9–35.5 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%30.4–38.8 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.3%20.4–26.2 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.3%9.2–13.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.4%18.8–26.5 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.6–21.1 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30–42.6 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%9.2–12.4 | 13.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%72.7–80 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.8%61.2–68.2 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.9–88.5 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%71.9–77.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.7%58.7–68.6 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%67.8–82.3 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.7%17.4–24.1 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.4–40.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.3–25.1 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12%10.1–13.9 | 17.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%9.1–12.4 | 15% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.6–7.5 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%7.2–10.1 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2%22.6–30.1 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.9%9.5–12.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15.1 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.7–4.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.5–8.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 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 Jefferson
Is Jefferson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #41 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson?
CDC estimates 31.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 38.4%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson?
NGMC Barrow in Winder, 10.8 miles in a straight line from Jefferson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–12.4%), 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 Jefferson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jefferson.
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.