Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Nicholson is healthier than 63%
Nicholson trails Georgia on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nicholson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nicholson
Smoking is more common in Nicholson
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.4%), vs 13.6% across Georgia. Habits ↓
COPD runs high in Nicholson
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. Conditions ↓
Nicholson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Nicholson is healthier than 31%. Against the 6,512 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 63%. 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 Nicholson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Nicholson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Nicholson’s median household income is $52,147; among the 6,512 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 63%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Nicholson adults…
Nicholson runs above GA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Nicholson residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Nicholson
No hospital or community health center in Nicholson 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 Nicholson; ≈ 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 Nicholson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Nicholson adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
4 in 10 Nicholson 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.
13.3% of Nicholson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Nicholson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson | C | 34.6% | 12.5% | 17.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Nicholson adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nicholson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nicholson is better than Georgia on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Nicholson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nicholson | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%18.4–25.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.6–17.9 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.4–21 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%27–41.7 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.7–14.3 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%31.6–39.8 | 37.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%32.9–41.5 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.8%23.5–29.9 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7–8.7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.7–7.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%6.7–9.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.7%11.9–17.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4%14.5–20.9 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.6%23.7–33.5 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.4–19.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%31.6–44.5 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%12.1–17.9 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%72.4–79.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%55–62.4 | 59.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%82.5–87 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%73.5–79.4 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%58.7–69.3 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.7%62.1–78.4 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.5–25.4 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.4%31.8–43.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%19.6–27.6 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%13.9–21 | 17.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14%11.5–16.6 | 15% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7.1–10 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%7.7–10.7 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%10.6–16.3 | 14.2% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.5%27.8–37.4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.5–17.3 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.5–19.3 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5–6.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 4.2% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Nicholson
Is Nicholson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Nicholson?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 41.7%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nicholson?
St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Nicholson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Nicholson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–17.9%), 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 Nicholson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Nicholson.
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.