Prater's Mill · Photo: Moonpyegirl · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Varnell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns
Varnell beats Georgia on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Varnell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Varnell
What’s behind Varnell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Varnell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Varnell’s median household income is $86,100; among the 10,310 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Varnell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Out of every 100 Varnell adults…
Varnell runs below GA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Varnell residents are 65 or older, vs 15% across Georgia. Stroke and diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Varnell
No hospital or community health center in Varnell 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 Varnell; ≈ 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.
5.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Varnell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Varnell adults are doing
About the same as Georgia on each measure.
1 in 3 Varnell 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.
Varnell and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varnell | B | 35.4% | 11.4% | 14.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Varnell adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Varnell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Varnell is better than Georgia on 8 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Varnell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Varnell | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%16.3–21.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12–15.4 | 13.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.6–19.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%28.7–42.5 | 35.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.9–12.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.5%28.8–36.1 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%33.9–42.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21.2–26.7 | 24.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.7–12.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.2%12.1–16.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.3–29.4 | 26.5% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.6%13.8–19.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.4%30.5–42.5 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.2%12.1–16.4 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%73–79.9 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.7–64.6 | 59.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.9–87.6 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%72.8–78.6 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%60.7–70 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70.3–83.4 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.4–24.8 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%30.2–40.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%19–25.9 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.1%11.9–16.6 | 17.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.1–13.9 | 15% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.9–8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.1–11.5 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.6%23.9–31.7 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.4–13.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.1–16.7 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.7 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%7–9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 4.2% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Varnell
Is Varnell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Varnell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Varnell?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 42.5%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Varnell?
Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia in Ringgold, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Varnell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Varnell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–16.4%), 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 Varnell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Varnell.
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.