Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Mount Vernon is healthier than 50%
Mount Vernon trails Kentucky on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mount Vernon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Mount Vernon is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Mount Vernon
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.8%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.2%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Mount Vernon runs above Kentucky on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Mount Vernon
53.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 27.1% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
Mount Vernon is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mount Vernon is healthier than 9%. Against the 2,031 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 50%. 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 Mount Vernon’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Mount Vernon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Vernon is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 30% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Mount Vernon’s median household income is $38,697; among the 2,031 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Mount Vernon adults…
Mount Vernon runs above KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mount Vernon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Care in and near Mount Vernon
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon; ≈ 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.
1 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Mount Vernon 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.
19.4% of Mount Vernon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Mount Vernon and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | D | 39.9% | 16.1% | 21.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mount Vernon adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mount Vernon
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mount Vernon is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Mount Vernon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mount Vernon | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.8%24.1–29.7 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.2–20.3 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.4–20.3 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%31.8–48.7 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14–18.4 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.5%39.8–49.2 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%35.1–45 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.5%33.5–41.7 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.1%22.6–32.3 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8%19.2–24.6 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.5%27.7–37.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%9.9–15.4 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.9%33.6–48.6 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.3–11.1 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.1–83.3 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.3%49.3–57.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%79.3–84.9 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.1%80.4–85.6 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%58.7–68.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%63.2–79.4 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%23.7–32.2 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%22.3–27.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%17.5–20.5 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.7%12.6–15 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.5%9.6–11.6 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.7–11.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%17.8–21.2 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%37.6–47 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.1%19.9–24.6 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17.1–21.3 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 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 Mount Vernon
Is Mount Vernon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mount Vernon is healthier than 9% 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 Mount Vernon?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 48.7%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mount Vernon?
Rockcastle County Hospital in Mount Vernon, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Mount Vernon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mount Vernon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–11.1%), 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 Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon.
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.