Brooks House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Middlesborough is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Middlesborough trails Kentucky on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Middlesborough. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Middlesborough
Middlesborough is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Middlesborough is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Middlesborough
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.6%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. Utility shut-off threats (11.9% vs 8.8%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 8.8%) are higher too. 25.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Middlesborough
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.2%), 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: 10.1%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Middlesborough runs above Kentucky on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Middlesborough is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Middlesborough is healthier than 3%. Against the 688 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 42%. 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 Middlesborough’s likely range.
What’s behind Middlesborough’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middlesborough is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #137 of 141 in Kentucky. All seven of Middlesborough’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 23.8% 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). Middlesborough’s median household income is $31,106; among the 688 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 42%, 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.
25.5% of Middlesborough adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Middlesborough adults…
Middlesborough runs above KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Middlesborough
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Middlesborough, 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 Middlesborough; ≈ 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.
2.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Middlesborough adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Middlesborough adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Middlesborough 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.
Middlesborough and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesborough | D− | 44.3% | 16.8% | 23.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Middlesborough adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Middlesborough
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Middlesborough is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Middlesborough’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Middlesborough | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%26.4–32.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.4–21.7 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.9–22 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.3%35.9–51.9 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.5–18.9 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46%41.8–50.5 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.5–45 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.1%34–41.8 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.7–13.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.2–10 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.2%12.9–15.6 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%5–5.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.5%26–34.9 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.8%21–26.5 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%27.8–37.5 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%9.7–14.9 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%34.4–48.6 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.2–10.4 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.6–82.7 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.9%45.8–53.8 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.2%78.4–84 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.3%80.8–85.7 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%55.4–66.4 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.4%59.1–76 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.7%24.5–32.7 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%20.7–28.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.6%20.3–25.1 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15%13.2–17 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.7–13.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.5%23–28.3 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%40.5–49.9 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.5%21.1–25.8 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%18.9–23.2 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.5%10.2–12.7 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.7–9.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.1%11.8–14.3 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.6%6.1–7.1 | 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 Middlesborough
Is Middlesborough a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middlesborough is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #137 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Middlesborough?
CDC estimates 44.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 51.9%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Middlesborough?
Middlesboro ARH Hospital in Middlesboro, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Middlesborough’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Middlesborough have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10.4%), 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 Middlesborough 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 Middlesborough.
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.