On CDC estimates, Charleston is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Charleston differs from Mississippi on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Charleston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Charleston
Charleston is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Charleston is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Charleston
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (6.9%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.9%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 11.5%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Charleston runs above Mississippi on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Charleston
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.9%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (18.5% vs 11.2%) and housing insecurity (25.3% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 25.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Charleston, and more people treating it
55.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 83.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Charleston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Charleston is healthier than 4%. Against the 1,607 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 32%. 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 Mississippi figure falls outside Charleston’s likely range.
What’s behind Charleston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charleston is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Charleston’s median household income is $36,892; among the 1,607 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Charleston compares well: binge drinking, 9.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.7% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Charleston adults…
Charleston runs above MS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.8% of Charleston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Keeping up with care
Share of Charleston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Care in and near Charleston
1 hospital in Charleston, 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 Charleston; ≈ 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 Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Charleston adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Charleston runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Charleston adults feel lonely. 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.
Charleston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | D− | 46.6% | 21.9% | 20.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Charleston adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Charleston
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charleston is better than Mississippi on 3 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Charleston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Charleston | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.5%28.4–38.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.5–20.6 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.6–20.4 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.6%37.9–56 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 21.9%19–24.9 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 55.5%50.7–60.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%37–46.5 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35%31–39.1 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.6–11.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.5%9.6–13.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.9%6.1–7.8 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.2%20.1–28.6 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%16.5–24 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 43.7%37–50.1 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.6%7.7–12 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.6%36.4–51.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%10.7–18.3 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.7%81.7–87.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.6–89 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.3%81–85.6 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58%52.4–63.3 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.4%59.8–77.8 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.1%15–21.6 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.9%33–44.8 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34%29.2–39.1 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.9%29.3–40.5 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.3%21.3–29.5 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.5%15.7–21.5 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.9%15.1–20.8 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.8%20.9–30.8 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.5%39.6–51 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 27.2%23.4–31 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%17.2–23.3 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11.3%9.6–13 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.6%12.3–17 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.6%7.3–10 | 5.3% | 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 Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Charleston
Is Charleston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charleston is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Charleston?
CDC estimates 46.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.9% and 56%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Charleston?
Tallahatchie General Hospital-Cah in Charleston, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Charleston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Charleston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–18.3%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
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 Charleston 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 Charleston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi 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.