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Freeman-Hurt HouseFreeman-Hurt House · Photo: National Trails Office (US National Park Service) · Public domain
–Not graded
Health in Ranger · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Ranger residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ranger, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ranger. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Ranger

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Ranger

1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.1% across Georgia. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.6% across Georgia. In all, Ranger runs above Georgia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Smoking is more common in Ranger

22.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.6% across Georgia. Habits ↓

Depression is more common in Ranger

1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.4%), vs 19% across Georgia. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 21.2%, vs 16.9% across Georgia. Mind & connection ↓

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 Ranger’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Ranger adults…

Ranger runs above GA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

12 of every 100 Ranger adults have COPD
Georgia: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 9.6–13.6%
Better than GAWorseAbout the sameGeorgia
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia

Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.

Get no exercise 35.3%GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hours 38%GA 38.4%
Binge drink 14.8%GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettes 22.3%GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Ranger, betterRanger, worseAbout the sameGeorgia
Where Ranger gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Ranger adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, Ranger runs above Georgia.

2 in 5Ranger adults feel lonely
39% · GA 37.3% · About the same as GA
1 in 4Ranger adults lack social or emotional support
24.9% · GA 24.6% · About the same as GA
1 in 4Ranger adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · GA 19% · Worse than GA
1 in 5Ranger adults are in frequent mental distress
21.2% · GA 16.9% · Worse than GA
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Ranger adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Getting care

Care in and near Ranger

No hospital or community health center in Ranger itself. These are the nearest.

+Low-cost careGeorgia Mountains Health ServicesEllijay · 16.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.9 mi
Adventhealth Gordon
Calhoun · ★★★★★
15.5 mi
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
Jasper · ★★★★★
16.4 mi
Georgia Mountains Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Ellijay
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.9 mi
Adventhealth Murray
Chatsworth · ★★★★★
17.3 mi
Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center
Jasper · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
23.1 mi
Hamilton Medical Center
Dalton · ★★★★★
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Ranger itself
✓ Dental careRanger is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Ranger itself

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 Ranger; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Ranger adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.

76%Yearly checkupGA 78%
54%Dentist visitGA 59%
84%Cholesterol checkGA 87%
59%Colon screeningGA 64%
73%MammogramGA 76%
78%Taking BP medsGA 77%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ranger 15.9% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 5
Ranger adults worry about having enough food
21.4% · GA 17.7%
About the same as GA
1 in 6
Ranger adults worry about keeping their housing
16.1% · GA 15%
About the same as GA
1 in 9
Ranger adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.8% · GA 9.6%
About the same as GA
1 in 9
Ranger adults lack reliable transportation
11.4% · GA 9.5%
About the same as GA

19.5% of Ranger adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.

Around town

Ranger and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

40.6%

of Ranger adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.4%
Thinking or memory20.3%
Hearing9.8%
Errands alone13.1%
Vision7.8%
Dressing or bathing6.2%
Georgia

Questions about health in Ranger

Why doesn’t Ranger have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ranger.

What hospital is closest to Ranger?

Northside Hospital Cherokee in Canton, 23.7 miles in a straight line from Ranger’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ranger.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.