Photo: Mjrmtg · CC BY-SA 3.0Pearson’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Pearson differs from Georgia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pearson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pearson
Dental care lags in Pearson
37.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 27.7% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Pearson’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More Pearson adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (42.1%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
Pearson is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Pearson is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Pearson adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (42.2%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is vision loss: 11.3% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
Pearson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pearson is healthier than 1%. Against the 839 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 17%. 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 Pearson’s likely range.
What’s behind Pearson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearson is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Pearson’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 42.1% 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). Pearson’s median household income is $32,286; among the 839 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pearson compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Pearson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pearson adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Pearson adults…
Pearson runs below GA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pearson
2 community health centers in Pearson, 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 Pearson; ≈ 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).
How Pearson adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Pearson runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Pearson 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.
33.6% of Pearson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Pearson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson | D− | 46.6% | 19.3% | 21.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Pearson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pearson is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Pearson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pearson | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.9%30.9–39 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.3–22 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.3–23.2 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.6%38–55.9 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%17.1–21.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.8%39.7–48.4 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%34.2–43.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.7–31.2 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.7%23.2–32.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8%18.8–25.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 42.1%36.7–48.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.6–15.9 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.4%34.7–50.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 27.8%23.7–32.1 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%72.9–80.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37.9%34.1–41.6 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.8%79.2–84.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.6–79.7 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.4%48.6–60 | 64.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.6%60.5–77.5 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.3–24.1 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.1%35.5–47.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%24.9–33.5 | 24.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.2%32.2–42 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.3%24.5–32.2 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.7%16.2–21.2 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.2%15.8–20.6 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.6%29.1–38 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%37.4–47.6 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.4%19.8–25.3 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.5%18.9–24.2 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.4%12.7–16.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.1%7.2–9 | 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 Pearson
Is Pearson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearson is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pearson?
CDC estimates 46.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 38% and 55.9%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pearson?
Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Pearson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pearson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 27.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 23.7–32.1%), 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 Pearson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pearson.
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.