Adair County Courthouse · Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Columbia is healthier than 77%
Columbia differs from Kentucky on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Columbia looks healthier next to Kentucky than next to the country
It’s healthier than 59% of the 141 Kentucky towns we grade, but 35% of towns nationwide. Much of Kentucky scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
1 in 14 working-age adults in Columbia has no health insurance
7.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.4% across Kentucky. Checkups ↓
Columbia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbia is healthier than 35%. Against the 4,759 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 77%. Health Grade ↓
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 Columbia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Columbia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, #59 of 141 in Kentucky. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 65% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Columbia’s median household income is $47,299; among the 4,759 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 77%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Kentucky towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Columbia is healthier than 59% of graded towns, against 35% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs below KY on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Columbia
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Columbia, 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 Columbia; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Columbia adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Columbia runs above Kentucky.
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.
15.2% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Columbia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | C+ | 34.1% | 11.7% | 17.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbia
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbia is better than Kentucky on 5 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Columbia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbia | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%19.7–24.7 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.5 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.5–22.7 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%27–41.7 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.1–13.3 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%30.5–38.1 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.4%29.4–37.5 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.9%24.6–31.1 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.5–8 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 10.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.5%16–23.5 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.3%15.1–19.6 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%22.9–31.8 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%11.5–17.9 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.1%36.9–51.5 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%5.6–9.3 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%72.5–80.6 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%52.7–60.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.6%75.4–81.6 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.7–80.5 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%60–70.8 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%65.2–81.3 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%24.2–32.8 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%22.4–29.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.9%16–20 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.4–14.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%8–10.4 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.9–12.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.2%13.4–17.2 | 14.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.3%34.5–44 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%14.5–18.3 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%18.1–22.5 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 9.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.5 | 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 Columbia
Is Columbia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbia is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #59 of 141 in Kentucky. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbia?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 41.7%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
TJ Health Columbia in Columbia, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Columbia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–9.3%), 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 Columbia 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 Columbia.
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.