Photo: Kybluegrass · CC BY-SA 3.0Stearns’ CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Stearns differs from Kentucky on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Stearns. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Stearns
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Stearns
1 in 6 adults have COPD (17.7%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.5%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 12%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Stearns runs above Kentucky on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Stearns is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Stearns is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Stearns
44% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 32% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Stearns, and more people treating it
46.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Kentucky 38.8%), but 84.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 81.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Stearns’ likely range.
What’s behind Stearns’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stearns is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Stearns’ estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 22.6% of adults, against 15.2% across Kentucky and 13% 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). Stearns’ median household income is $55,931; among the 7,709 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Stearns compares well: binge drinking, 11.1% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 84.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Stearns adults…
Stearns runs above KY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Stearns adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Care in and near Stearns
No hospital or community health center in Stearns itself. These are the nearest.
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 Stearns; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Stearns adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Stearns 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.
33% of Stearns adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Stearns and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns | D− | 44.4% | 18.9% | 28.6% | CDC place |
| Whitley City | — | — | — | — | |
| Pine Knot | D− | 40.9% | 15.6% | 27% | CDC place |
Whitley City: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Stearns adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Stearns
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Stearns is better than Kentucky on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Stearns’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Stearns | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35%31.8–38.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%20.2–25.1 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.8–23.1 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.4%36.2–52.9 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.9%16.5–21.4 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.8%41.8–51.9 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.2%38.2–48.3 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 41.6%37.5–45.9 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.6%11–14.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12%10.9–13.3 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 17.7%16.1–19.6 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.5%6–7.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32%27–37.5 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28.6%25.5–31.8 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.8%34.6–45.3 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.1%8.8–13.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.5%37.2–52 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.5–11.2 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.3–83.3 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44%40–48.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%79.2–84.9 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.7%82.1–87.1 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.2%53.5–64.7 | 65.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.1%56.7–74.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.1%25.9–34.5 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.6–27.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.6%24–29.4 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.1%15.1–19.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.2–15.8 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%12.1–14.7 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33%29.9–36.2 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.9%46.1–55.9 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.4%25.7–31.2 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.7%21.3–26.2 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.8%12.4–15.4 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.5–11.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.7%14.3–17.2 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.5%7.9–9.2 | 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 Stearns
Is Stearns a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stearns is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Stearns?
CDC estimates 44.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.2% and 52.9%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Stearns?
Big South Fork Medical Center in Oneida, 13.5 miles in a straight line from Stearns’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Stearns have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.2%), 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 Stearns more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Stearns.
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.