Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Sparks is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Sparks differs from Georgia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sparks. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sparks
Dental care lags in Sparks
42.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 24.8% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓
Sparks is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Sparks is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Sparks
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (35.6%), about twice the Georgia rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.4% vs 9.6%) and no reliable transportation (17.8% vs 9.5%) are higher too. 34.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.2% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Sparks adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (40.2%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is vision loss: 10.3% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
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 Sparks’ likely range.
What’s behind Sparks’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sparks is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Sparks’ estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 19.1% of adults, against 13.3% across Georgia and 12% 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). Sparks’ median household income is $39,191; among the 2,150 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Sparks compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Sparks adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
34.5% of Sparks adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sparks adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Out of every 100 Sparks adults…
Sparks runs below GA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Sparks residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Sparks
No hospital or community health center in Sparks 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 Sparks; ≈ 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).
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.
How Sparks adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Sparks runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Sparks 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.
Sparks and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Every CDC estimate for Sparks
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sparks is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Sparks’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sparks | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.1%28.7–36 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.6–20.9 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.4%19–23.9 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.4%34.2–50.9 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.1%17–21.5 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.7%41.4–50.1 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.6–42.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.3–31.7 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%5–6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%20.9–28.9 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%18.9–25 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.5%32.4–43.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%9.9–14.9 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.4%38.4–52.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.1%16.3–22.1 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.6–82.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 42.4%38.6–46.1 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81–85.3 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%76–81 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.4%53.1–63.5 | 64.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.6%62.4–78 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%17.9–24.6 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.2%35.7–46.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.1%25.8–34.5 | 24.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.6%31.1–39.9 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.9%23.4–30.4 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.4%17–22 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.8%15.5–20.2 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.5%30.4–38.7 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.2%35.5–45.3 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.1%19.6–24.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.6%18.3–23.1 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.5%12.9–16.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.8%7.1–8.7 | 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 Sparks
Is Sparks a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sparks is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sparks?
CDC estimates 42.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.2% and 50.9%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sparks?
SGMC Berrien Campus in Nashville, 12.2 miles in a straight line from Sparks’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Sparks have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.3–22.1%), 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 Sparks more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sparks.
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.