Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge · Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Salem residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Salem, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Salem
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. 22.3% of adults have diabetes, vs 13.3% across Georgia. High blood pressure is also above the state: 52.3%, vs 37.4% across Georgia. In all, Salem runs above Georgia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%), and stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Salem
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.2%), vs 17.7% across Georgia. Housing insecurity (21.6% vs 15%) and utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 9.6%) are higher too. 21.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Salem adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (35.6%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
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 Salem’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs below GA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Salem is an older town: 28% 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 Salem as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.4% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem 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 Salem; ≈ 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 Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Salem adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Salem runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Salem 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.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Salem
Why doesn’t Salem have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Salem.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, 12.1 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem.
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.