Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Murray is healthier than 70%
Murray differs from Kentucky on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Murray. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Murray
Mental distress runs high in Murray
22.4% of adults are in frequent mental distress, vs 17.4% across Kentucky. Depression is above the state too: 31.1%, vs 26.7% across Kentucky. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Murray
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.3%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. No reliable transportation (12.5% vs 8.8%) is higher too. 21.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 13 working-age adults in Murray has no health insurance
7.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.4% across Kentucky. Checkups ↓
Murray is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Murray is healthier than 25%. Against the 3,705 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 70%. 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 Murray’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Murray’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Murray is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #79 of 141 in Kentucky. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 67% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Murray’s median household income is $44,091; among the 3,705 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 70%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Kentucky towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Murray is healthier than 44% of graded towns, against 25% nationally.
Where Murray compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7% (U.S. 7.9%).
How Murray adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Murray 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.4% of Murray adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Keeping up with care
Share of Murray adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Murray adults…
Murray runs below KY on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Murray
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Murray, 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 Murray; ≈ 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.
3.4 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Murray and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray | C− | 38.9% | 11% | 17.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Murray adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Murray
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Murray is better than Kentucky on 7 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Murray’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Murray | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24%21.4–26.6 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.3 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.4%20.2–24.6 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%31.6–46.3 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.5–12.6 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.7–36.5 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%29.8–38 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.1%23–29.2 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.7–13.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.1%16.7–23.7 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%15.1–19.5 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.6%24.2–33.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%10.8–16.6 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%33.9–47.5 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.5–9.1 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%72.3–80.4 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.9%48.9–56.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.8%71.4–78.2 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.3–78.4 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.7–71.5 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.9%64.7–79.9 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.1%26.9–35.5 | 26.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.8–26.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.3%18.2–22.5 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.5%11.9–15.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.3–13.7 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.4%19.1–23.6 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.5%37.8–47.2 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%14–17.6 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.9%20.7–25.3 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.4–7.7 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%11–13.5 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–5 | 4.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Murray
Is Murray a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Murray is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #79 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 Murray?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 46.3%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Murray?
Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Murray’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Murray have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9.1%), 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 Murray more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Murray.
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.