Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Swainsboro is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Swainsboro differs from Georgia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Swainsboro. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Swainsboro
Swainsboro is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Swainsboro is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Swainsboro adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.4%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Swainsboro
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. Diabetes is also above the state: 17.8%, vs 13.3% across Georgia. In all, Swainsboro runs above Georgia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Swainsboro adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (39.6%, vs 29.6% across Georgia). The biggest difference is vision loss: 9.6% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
Swainsboro has a top-rated hospital
Emanuel Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Swainsboro’s likely range.
What’s behind Swainsboro’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Swainsboro is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #245 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Swainsboro’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 39.4% 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). Swainsboro’s median household income is $49,750; among the 5,705 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Swainsboro compares well: binge drinking, 11.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
2.1 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Swainsboro adults…
Swainsboro runs above GA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Swainsboro
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Swainsboro, 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 Swainsboro; ≈ 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).
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Swainsboro adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Keeping up with care
Share of Swainsboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Swainsboro adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Swainsboro runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Swainsboro 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.
32.4% of Swainsboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Swainsboro and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swainsboro | D− | 45.3% | 17.8% | 21.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Swainsboro
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Swainsboro is better than Georgia on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Swainsboro’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Swainsboro | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31%27.7–34.7 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.4 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19.1–23.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.3%37.5–53.3 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.8%15.7–20 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.6%41.4–49.9 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.5–43.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.6–33.2 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6–7.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.9–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.2%20.4–28.4 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%18.6–24.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.4%34.3–44.7 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.4%9.3–13.9 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.2%36.2–50.6 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.9%15.4–20.6 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.4–82.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.1%42.5–49.9 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%82–85.9 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.8–80.8 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%56.9–67 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%68.5–82.7 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%17.9–24.5 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.9%35.2–46.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.2%25.1–33.4 | 24.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33%29.4–36.6 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.4%22.5–28.3 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.1%16.1–20.3 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.8%15–18.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.4%29.1–35.9 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.6%35.1–44.3 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.2%18.9–23.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%18.1–22.7 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.4%12.9–16 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.6–8 | 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 Swainsboro
Is Swainsboro a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Swainsboro is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #245 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Swainsboro?
CDC estimates 45.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.5% and 53.3%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Swainsboro?
Emanuel Medical Center in Swainsboro, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Swainsboro’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Swainsboro have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.4–20.6%), 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 Swainsboro 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 Swainsboro.
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.