Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Harlan is healthier than 57%
Harlan trails Kentucky on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harlan. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harlan
Harlan is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Harlan is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Harlan
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.7%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. No reliable transportation (11.5% vs 8.8%) and utility shut-off threats (11.4% vs 8.8%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Harlan
1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.1%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.6%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Harlan runs above Kentucky on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Harlan is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Harlan is healthier than 7%. Against the 854 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$41K), it’s healthier than 57%. 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 Harlan’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Harlan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlan is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 19% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Harlan’s median household income is $32,408; among the 854 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$41K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.4% of Harlan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Harlan adults…
Harlan runs above KY on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Harlan
1 community health center in Harlan, 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 Harlan; ≈ 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 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Harlan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Harlan 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.
Harlan and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan | D | 42.3% | 16% | 21.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Harlan adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harlan
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harlan is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Harlan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harlan | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.5%24.8–30.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.3–20.5 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17.1–21 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.3%34.2–50.7 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%13.9–18.2 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.1%39.4–48.5 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.3–43.6 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.1%32.1–40 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.6–13.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%11.7–14.5 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.6–5.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.7%21.9–29.6 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.7%19.1–24.3 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.2%26.5–35.9 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%9.8–15.2 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.6%35.3–50 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.3–10.4 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%75.9–83.1 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%49.4–57.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82%79–84.7 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.6%80–85.1 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.9%57.5–67.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.2%60.3–77.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%24.7–33.2 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.2–27.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.7%19.5–24 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.8%13.1–16.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%10–13 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.4%21.1–25.7 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8%38–47.4 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.6%19.3–24 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.8%17.7–22 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%7–8.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.7–13 | 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 Harlan
Is Harlan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlan is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harlan?
CDC estimates 42.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.2% and 50.7%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harlan?
Harlan ARH Hospital in Harlan, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Harlan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harlan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.4%), 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 Harlan 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 Harlan.
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.