Photo: Tennessee Valley Authority · Public domainWithin Kentucky, Benton is healthier than 54% of graded towns
Benton differs from Kentucky on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton
Benton looks healthier next to Kentucky than next to the country
It’s healthier than 54% of the 141 Kentucky towns we grade, but 31% of towns nationwide. Much of Kentucky scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Benton adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Kentucky. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Kentucky figure falls outside Benton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Benton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns, #65 of 141 in Kentucky. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Benton’s median household income is $66,827; among the 10,173 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Benton compares well: worried about having enough food, 10.9% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 8.9% (U.S. 12%); lack reliable transportation, 6.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Benton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Benton adults…
Benton runs below KY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Benton
1 hospital in Benton, 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 Benton; ≈ 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 Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Benton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Benton adults are doing
About the same as Kentucky on each measure.
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.
Benton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | C | 38% | 13.3% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Benton adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Benton
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Benton is better than Kentucky on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Benton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Benton | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%19.3–24.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.5–17.1 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15–18.8 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%30.7–45.5 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.5–15.2 | 13.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.7%35.4–43.9 | 38.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%32.7–41.8 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.5%29.8–37.2 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 10.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.3%12.3–18.7 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16.4–21.3 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27%22.8–31.5 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.3–17.2 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%30.6–44 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%4.7–7.7 | 5.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.2–82.4 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%55.2–63.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%82.5–87.3 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.2%79.3–84.5 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.1%65.1–74.6 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%68.2–82.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%23.9–32.1 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18.3–25 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 15.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.7–7.6 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%6–7.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8.2–10.9 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.2%32.8–41.8 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.5–19.6 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.8–18.7 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.4–10.6 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.9 | 9.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.4 | 4.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Benton
Is Benton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #65 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Benton?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 45.5%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benton?
Marshall County Hospital in Benton, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Benton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Benton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–7.7%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.
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 Benton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky 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.