Photo: Richardelainechambers at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Metter is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Metter differs from Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Metter. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Metter
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Metter
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.8%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 6.1% across Georgia. In all, Metter runs above Georgia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Metter is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Metter is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Metter
47.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 23.9% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Metter, and more people treating it
46.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 81% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Metter is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Metter is healthier than 4%. Against the 1,388 towns with similar household incomes ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 32%. 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 Metter’s likely range.
What’s behind Metter’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Metter is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #230 of 261 in Georgia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 16% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Metter’s median household income is $35,759; among the 1,388 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Metter compares well: binge drinking, 11.9% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Metter adults…
Metter runs above GA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Metter is an older town: 25% 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 Metter as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Metter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Metter
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Metter, 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 Metter; ≈ 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 Metter adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Metter runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Metter 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.
25.9% of Metter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Metter and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metter | D− | 44.3% | 18.9% | 19.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Metter adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Metter
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Metter is better than Georgia on 2 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Metter’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Metter | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.2%26.6–34 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.2–20.7 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.5 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.3%35.7–53 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.9%16.6–21.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.3%41.9–50.6 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.8%36.2–45.3 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.2–35.3 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.7 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.1–8.7 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%9.4–12.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.9%19.7–27.9 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.9–22.6 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.3%31.1–41.7 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.6–14.3 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%33.4–48.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.8%15.2–20.8 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.7–83.2 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.1%43–50.9 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.6–87.4 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81%78.5–83.3 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.3%54.6–65.5 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%63.6–79.8 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.2–23.9 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%33.8–45.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.4–31.4 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.9%24.2–32 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.9%18.2–23.9 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.3–16 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.9%22.4–29.7 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3%35.5–45.2 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%19.5–25 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.4–21 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.3–10.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.2%6.4–8 | 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 Metter
Is Metter a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Metter is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #230 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Metter?
CDC estimates 44.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 53%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Metter?
Candler County Hospital in Metter, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Metter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Metter have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.2–20.8%), 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 Metter 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 Metter.
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.