Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Jackson is healthier than 47%
Jackson trails Kentucky on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jackson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jackson
Jackson is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Jackson is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Jackson
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.8%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.3%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Jackson runs above Kentucky on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Jackson
51.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 25.3% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
Jackson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jackson is healthier than 5%. Against the 886 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 47%. 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 Jackson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Jackson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 15% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Jackson’s median household income is $32,683; among the 886 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Jackson adults…
Jackson runs above KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jackson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Care in and near Jackson
1 community health center in Jackson, 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 Jackson; ≈ 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 Jackson 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.
21.1% of Jackson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Jackson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | D− | 42.2% | 16.1% | 22.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jackson adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jackson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jackson is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Jackson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jackson | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29%26–32 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.1–21.6 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%17.3–21.5 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.2%33.4–51.3 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%13.9–18.5 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.6%39.9–48.9 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%36.5–46.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.7%33.4–42 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.5–13.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.8%13.2–16.3 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.9–5.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.3%20.7–30.3 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.8%19.9–25.8 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.5%28.3–38.9 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12%9.3–15 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%32.8–48.6 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.4–10.2 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.5–83.2 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.2%46.8–55.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%80.4–85.8 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.8%81.1–86.2 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%58.3–69.4 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.8%58.9–77.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.1%24.6–33.8 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.5–26.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.6%17.5–21.8 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%11.6–15 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.1%18.7–23.5 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.4%39.3–49.4 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.4%20.9–26 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.8–23.4 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.6%10.2–13 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.5–14.2 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 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 Jackson
Is Jackson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 5% 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 Jackson?
CDC estimates 42.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.4% and 51.3%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jackson?
Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Jackson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jackson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.2%), 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 Jackson 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 Jackson.
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.