Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Paducah is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Paducah trails Kentucky on 12 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Paducah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Paducah
Making ends meet is harder in Paducah
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.4%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. Utility shut-off threats (12.4% vs 8.8%) and housing insecurity (15.8% vs 11.7%) are higher too. 23.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Paducah is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Paducah is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Paducah
1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 4% across Kentucky. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.2%), vs 13.7% across Kentucky. High blood pressure is also above the state: 44.9%, vs 38.8% across Kentucky. In all, Paducah runs above Kentucky on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Paducah has a top-rated hospital
Baptist Health Paducah is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Paducah’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Paducah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paducah is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #114 of 141 in Kentucky. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Paducah’s median household income is $49,915; among the 5,763 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 24%, 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.
23.6% of Paducah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Paducah adults…
Paducah runs above KY on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Paducah
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Paducah, 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 Paducah; ≈ 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.
15 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Paducah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How Paducah 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.
Paducah and the towns around it
Paducah’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Paducah adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Paducah
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Paducah is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Paducah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Paducah | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.5%24–29.1 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.4–19.1 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.3–19.9 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%37.1–51.1 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14.2–18.3 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.9%40.9–49.5 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%34–42.6 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.5%31.8–39.2 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8.1–9.8 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 11.8%10.7–12.9 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.6–5.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%17.9–25 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.1%17.8–22.5 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.7%26.5–35.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%9.7–14.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.7%36.3–49.2 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%78.3–84.6 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.4%50.8–58 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.3–86.3 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.1–84.2 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.2–70.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%65.1–80.1 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%22.9–30.6 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%20.6–27.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%19.5–23.5 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.8%14.2–17.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%11–13.9 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.6–12.7 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.6%21.5–25.7 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.9%36.6–45.2 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.1%19–23.3 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.7%16.8–20.7 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.5–12.7 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.7–6.6 | 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 Paducah
Is Paducah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paducah is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #114 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Paducah?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 51.1%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Paducah?
Baptist Health Paducah in Paducah, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Paducah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Paducah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–8.9%), 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 Paducah 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 Paducah.
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.