Photo: Jud McCranie · Public domainWhere Jekyll Island residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Jekyll Island, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jekyll Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jekyll Island
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Jekyll Island
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (17.4%), more than twice the Georgia rate. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11.2%), vs 6.1% across Georgia. Arthritis is also above the state: 41.1%, vs 24.6% across Georgia. In all, Jekyll Island runs above Georgia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 72% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Jekyll Island, and more people treating it
52.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 88.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Jekyll Island
The closest emergency room is Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus in Saint Marys, 22.8 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Coastal Community Health Services is closer (7.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Jekyll Island keeps up with checkups
It beats Georgia on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (87.1% vs 78.4%) and dentist visits (74% vs 59.2%). 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 Jekyll Island’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Jekyll Island adults…
Jekyll Island runs above GA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Jekyll Island is an older town: 72% of residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Jekyll Island as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jekyll Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Jekyll Island
No hospital or community health center in Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island; ≈ 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.
How Jekyll Island adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Jekyll Island does better than Georgia.
1 in 4 Jekyll Island 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.
4.9% of Jekyll Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Jekyll Island and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | D− | 42.3% | 21.1% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jekyll Island adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Jekyll Island
Why doesn’t Jekyll Island have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Jekyll Island.
What hospital is closest to Jekyll Island?
Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus in Saint Marys, 22.8 miles in a straight line from Jekyll Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Jekyll Island?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is CCHS Downtown Brunswick in Brunswick, 7.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jekyll Island.
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. 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.