Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Dawson Springs is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Dawson Springs differs from Kentucky on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dawson Springs. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dawson Springs
Dawson Springs is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dawson Springs is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Dawson Springs
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.9%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.5%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 11%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Dawson Springs runs above Kentucky on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Dawson Springs
49.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 30.2% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Dawson Springs, and more people treating it
46.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Kentucky 38.8%), but 84% of them take medicine for it, vs 81.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Dawson Springs is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Dawson Springs is healthier than 4%. Against the 901 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 40%. 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 Dawson Springs’ likely range.
What’s behind Dawson Springs’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dawson Springs is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 16% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Dawson Springs’ median household income is $32,838; among the 901 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Dawson Springs compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 84% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Dawson Springs adults…
Dawson Springs runs above KY on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dawson Springs adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Care in and near Dawson Springs
No hospital or community health center in Dawson Springs 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 Dawson Springs; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Dawson Springs 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.5% of Dawson Springs adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Dawson Springs and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson Springs | D− | 42% | 17.2% | 24.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dawson Springs adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dawson Springs
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dawson Springs is better than Kentucky on 1 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Dawson Springs’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dawson Springs | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%26.4–32.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.2–21.2 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42%34.6–49.6 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.2%15–19.6 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.4%42.7–50.2 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.8%36.6–45.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 39.4%35.4–43.4 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 11%9.8–12.2 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.9%13.4–16.5 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%5–6.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.2%25.2–35.3 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.4%21.6–27.4 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.6%30.6–40.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.5–14.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.9%37.1–50.9 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.4–10.7 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.1–83.2 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.8%45.6–53.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.4–85.2 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84%81.6–86.1 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%59.2–69.3 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%63.6–79.4 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%24.5–32.8 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20–26.8 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%18.3–22.7 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%12.2–15.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.2–12 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%10–12.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.5%19.1–24 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.2%41.4–51 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.2%21.7–26.8 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%19–23.5 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.4%11–13.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.4–13.9 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 4.4% | 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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Dawson Springs
Is Dawson Springs a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dawson Springs is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dawson Springs?
CDC estimates 42% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 49.6%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dawson Springs?
Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Dawson Springs’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Dawson Springs have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.7%), 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 Dawson Springs more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dawson Springs.
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.