Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Royston is healthier than 79%
Royston differs from Georgia on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Royston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Royston
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Royston
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.1% across Georgia. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.6% across Georgia. In all, Royston runs above Georgia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Royston looks healthier next to Georgia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 37% of the 261 Georgia towns we grade, but 17% of towns nationwide. Much of Georgia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
More Royston adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.1%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Royston, and more people treating it
42.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 80.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Royston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Royston is healthier than 17%. Against the 1,165 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Royston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Royston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Royston is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #165 of 261 in Georgia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 32% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Royston’s median household income is $34,435; among the 1,165 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Georgia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Royston is healthier than 37% of graded towns, against 17% nationally.
Where Royston compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Royston adults…
Royston runs above GA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Royston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Royston
1 community health center in Royston, 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 Royston; ≈ 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 Royston adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
2 in 5 Royston 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.
16.4% of Royston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Royston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royston | C− | 38.7% | 15.5% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Franklin Springs | B+ | 31.7% | 7.2% | 12% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Royston adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Royston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Royston is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Royston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Royston | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.4–27.9 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.6 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.4–20.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.7%31.7–45.7 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.5%13.6–17.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.9%39.1–46.5 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%36.6–44.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.7–34.6 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.2 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%8.1–11 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.2%17.8–24.3 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.6%14.1–19.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.1%26.7–35.6 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%11.2–15.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%30.8–41.8 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.2%10.8–15.8 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76.6–82.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.3%52–58.3 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.7–88.3 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%78.4–82.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.9–70 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%65–78 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.4–24.4 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38%33.5–42.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%21.2–27.4 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.2%16.2–22.3 | 17.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.8%12.7–16.8 | 15% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.6–11.2 | 9.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.4%13.6–19.3 | 14.2% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%32.2–40.6 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19%16.4–21.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.6–18.8 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6–7.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%9.7–12.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 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 Royston
Is Royston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Royston is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #165 of 261 in Georgia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Royston?
CDC estimates 38.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 45.7%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Royston?
Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center in Lavonia, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Royston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Royston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–15.8%), 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 Royston 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 Royston.
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.