Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Morehead is healthier than 94%
Morehead differs from Kentucky on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Morehead. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Morehead
Morehead is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Morehead is healthier than 46%. Against the 1,573 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 94%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Morehead
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (24.7%), vs 17.4% across Kentucky. Depression is above the state too: 33.7%, vs 26.7% across Kentucky. Mind & connection ↓
Getting around is a barrier for more Morehead adults
1 in 8 adults lack reliable transportation (12%), vs 8.8% across Kentucky. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in Morehead
Morehead runs below Kentucky on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.3% vs 8.7%), diabetes (8.9% vs 13.7%) and heart disease (5.5% vs 8.2%). A young population is part of it: only 8% of residents are 65 or older (Kentucky 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Morehead’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Morehead’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morehead is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #50 of 141 in Kentucky. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Morehead’s median household income is $36,741; among the 1,573 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Kentucky towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Morehead is healthier than 65% of graded towns, against 46% nationally.
Where Morehead compares well: high blood pressure, 26.8% (U.S. 34.4%); high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 27.3% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 21.7% (U.S. 25.3%).
How Morehead adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Morehead 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.
Out of every 100 Morehead adults…
Morehead runs below KY on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Morehead residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kentucky. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.5% of Morehead adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Care in and near Morehead
1 hospital in Morehead, 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 Morehead; ≈ 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.
8.5 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Morehead adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Morehead and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead | B− | 35.7% | 8.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Morehead adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Morehead
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Morehead is better than Kentucky on 9 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Morehead’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Morehead | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%18.9–23.6 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.7%22.4–27.1 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.8–43.3 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.8%23.7–30.1 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.3%24–30.7 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.7%19.3–24.4 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.1–14.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.1%7.3–9 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.1%14.9–21.9 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.7–17.8 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 26.4%22.3–31 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.1–20 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%34–48 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.2–9.7 | 5.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.1–79.4 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.9%50.9–58.9 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 71.4%67.5–75.2 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.8%68.6–73 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.9–70.8 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%65.4–80.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.7%29.3–38.4 | 26.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%19.8–26.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17%15.1–18.9 | 15.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.6–13.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.8–10.2 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.8–13.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.5%13.7–17.4 | 14.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.3%36.6–46.2 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.6–14.5 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.2%21.8–26.7 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.6–12.9 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 4.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Morehead
Is Morehead a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morehead is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #50 of 141 in Kentucky. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Morehead?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 43.3%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Morehead?
St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Morehead’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Morehead have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–9.7%), 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 Morehead more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Morehead.
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.