Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Watterson Park is healthier than 74%
Watterson Park differs from Kentucky on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watterson Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watterson Park
Making ends meet is harder in Watterson Park
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.8%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. Housing insecurity (16.9% vs 11.7%) and utility shut-off threats (12.5% vs 8.8%) are higher too. 18.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 10 working-age adults in Watterson Park has no health insurance
9.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.4% across Kentucky. Checkups ↓
Diabetes runs high in Watterson Park
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16%), vs 13.7% across Kentucky. Conditions ↓
Watterson Park is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Watterson Park is healthier than 21%. Against the 2,350 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 74%. 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 Watterson Park’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Watterson Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watterson Park is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 55% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Watterson Park’s median household income is $39,844; among the 2,350 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.9% of Watterson Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Keeping up with care
Share of Watterson Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Watterson Park adults…
Watterson Park runs below KY on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Watterson Park
No hospital or community health center in Watterson Park 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 Watterson Park; ≈ 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 Watterson Park 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.
Watterson Park and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watterson Park | C− | 39.8% | 16% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| West Buechel | C | 38.8% | 13.5% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watterson Park adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watterson Park
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watterson Park is better than Kentucky on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Watterson Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watterson Park | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.4%23–27.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.8–17.2 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.1–18.6 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%35.2–44.5 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14.2–17.9 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.2%36.2–42.2 | 38.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.1%34.1–40 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.8–33.4 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 10.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.4%17.1–23.8 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.7–19.9 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%25.5–32.4 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.9–17 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.5%36.1–44.9 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.9%8–12 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%75–81.3 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50.6–57.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%82.8–87.4 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.2–83.9 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%60–68.4 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%66.2–79.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%21.2–27.2 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.8–27.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.8%19.8–23.9 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%15.1–18.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.5%11.1–14.1 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.9–13.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.9%17–21 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.7%35.2–42.3 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.8–20.5 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.8–19.4 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.7–8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 9.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 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 Watterson Park
Is Watterson Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watterson Park is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− 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 Watterson Park?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 44.5%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watterson Park?
Baptist Health Louisville in Louisville, 3.9 miles in a straight line from Watterson Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Watterson Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–12%), 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 Watterson Park 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 Watterson Park.
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.