On CDC estimates, Waleska is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Waleska differs from Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waleska. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waleska
Binge drinking is the habit Waleska doesn’t win on
22.4% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Georgia, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Waleska
Waleska runs below Georgia on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (4.6% vs 13.3%), stroke (1.3% vs 3.6%) and heart disease (2.6% vs 6.1%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (Georgia 15%). Conditions ↓
Waleska is an active town
Only 17.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 Waleska’s likely range.
What’s behind Waleska’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waleska is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Waleska’s median household income is $56,250; among the 7,801 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Waleska adults…
Waleska runs below GA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waleska
No hospital or community health center in Waleska 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 Waleska; ≈ 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 Waleska adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
How Waleska adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Waleska runs above Georgia.
5 in 10 Waleska 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.
5.9% of Waleska adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Waleska and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waleska | A | 25% | 4.6% | 7.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waleska adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waleska
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waleska is better than Georgia on 17 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Waleska’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waleska | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.6%9.5–16.4 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.7%6.9–10.5 | 13.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%16.8–24.7 | 16.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25%19.9–30.2 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 4.6%3.9–5.3 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 18.1%15.7–20.6 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 22.5%19.7–25.2 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.4–11.4 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.6%2.3–3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.1%2.5–3.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.3%1.2–1.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.2%10–14.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.7%5.6–9.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%13.3–22.6 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.4%18.7–26.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%31.1–41.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%6.8–15.5 | 13.1% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.7%65.1–74.4 | 78.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%60.8–67.5 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.3%69.1–80.4 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 56.9%54.1–59.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%62.2–71.2 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%64.9–78.7 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%18.9–26.6 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 46.6%40.8–52.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%19.7–30.3 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.3%7.4–16.6 | 17.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.1%6.5–12.1 | 15% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%3.6–6 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%5.9–10.9 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%3.8–8.7 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.5%18.8–30.5 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 5.5%4.5–6.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%12.1–21.7 | 14.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.5–4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%5.2–9.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.7%1.4–2 | 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 Waleska
Is Waleska a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waleska is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waleska?
CDC estimates 25% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.9% and 30.2%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waleska?
Northside Hospital Cherokee in Canton, 7.8 miles in a straight line from Waleska’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waleska have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–15.5%), 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 Waleska more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waleska.
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.