Photo: Jim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Earlington is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Earlington differs from Kentucky on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Earlington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Earlington
Earlington is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Earlington is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Earlington
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.5%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. Utility shut-off threats (13.3% vs 8.8%) and housing insecurity (17.6% vs 11.7%) are higher too. 25% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Earlington
50.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 26.5% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
Earlington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Earlington is healthier than 4%. Against the 1,917 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 29%. 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 Earlington’s likely range.
What’s behind Earlington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Earlington is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. All seven of Earlington’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 22.9% of adults, against 18.5% across Kentucky and 11.8% 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). Earlington’s median household income is $38,194; among the 1,917 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25% of Earlington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Keeping up with care
Share of Earlington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Earlington adults…
Earlington runs below KY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Earlington
1 community health center in Earlington, 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 Earlington; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Earlington adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Earlington 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.
Earlington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earlington | D− | 43.7% | 16.7% | 22.9% | CDC place |
| Madisonville | D | 41.5% | 15.5% | 20.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Earlington adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Earlington
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Earlington is better than Kentucky on 1 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Earlington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Earlington | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.1%25.3–31 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.9–20 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.8–21.9 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.7%36.3–51.4 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.5–18.9 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%39.9–47.1 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.7–40.6 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%30.8–38.4 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 12.4%11.2–13.7 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.5–5.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.5%22.1–31.1 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.9%20.3–25.7 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.9%28.2–37.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.2–15.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.8%39.9–53.7 | 39.6% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.6–10.4 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.7–82.8 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.2%46.2–54.2 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%80.6–85.5 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.7–83.7 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.3–68.7 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.2%64–79.6 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.9%24–32.1 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.7–29.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.5%22.1–27.1 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.6%15.6–19.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.7–15.1 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.7–14.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25%22.4–27.9 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.1%38.5–47.7 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.6%19.4–24 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.9–23.3 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.2 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%11–13.4 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.6–6.6 | 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 Earlington
Is Earlington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Earlington is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Earlington?
CDC estimates 43.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.3% and 51.4%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Earlington?
Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville in Madisonville, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Earlington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Earlington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10.4%), 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 Earlington 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 Earlington.
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.