First African Baptist Church and Parsonage · Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Waycross is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Waycross differs from Georgia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waycross. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waycross
More Waycross adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (40.8%), vs 26.5% across Georgia. Habits ↓
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Waycross
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), vs 3.6% across Georgia. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.8%, vs 13.3% across Georgia. In all, Waycross runs above Georgia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Waycross is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Waycross is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Waycross, and more people treating it
48.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Georgia 37.4%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Waycross’ likely range.
What’s behind Waycross’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waycross is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #243 of 261 in Georgia. All seven of Waycross’ estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 20.8% 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). Waycross’ median household income is $38,301; among the 1,946 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Waycross compares well: binge drinking, 11.3% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia
Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.
1.3 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Waycross adults…
Waycross runs above GA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waycross adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.
Care in and near Waycross
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Waycross, 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 Waycross; ≈ 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).
How Waycross adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Waycross runs above Georgia.
2 in 5 Waycross 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.
31.9% of Waycross adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.
Waycross and the towns around it
Waycross’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waycross adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waycross
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waycross is better than Georgia on 2 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside Waycross’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waycross | GA | U.S. | vs GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.8%28.5–35.2 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.1 | 13.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.8–22.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%36.9–53.6 | 35.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.8%18.4–23.4 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.8%44.5–53.3 | 37.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.1%35.8–44.7 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.4–35.4 | 24.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%9.9–12.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.7–6.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.5%22.7–30.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%17.6–23 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.8%35.7–46.1 | 26.5% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.3%9.2–14 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.5%35.1–48.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 13.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.4–84.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.1%43.6–50.8 | 59.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.8–87.4 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.2%78.9–83.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%56.9–67.1 | 64.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%64–79.2 | 75.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.4–24.1 | 19% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%33.8–45 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%23.6–31.7 | 24.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.7%28.2–35 | 17.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.9%21–26.6 | 15% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.6%15.6–19.7 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.2%14.5–18.1 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.9%28.7–35.1 | 14.2% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%36.6–45.8 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.9%21.3–26.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.3–21.5 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.5–11.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.5%13–16 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 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 Waycross
Is Waycross a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waycross is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #243 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waycross?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.9% and 53.6%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waycross?
Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Waycross’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waycross have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–19.2%), 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 Waycross 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 Waycross.
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.