Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Clarksdale is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Clarksdale differs from Mississippi on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clarksdale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clarksdale
Clarksdale is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Clarksdale is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Clarksdale
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (22.6%), about twice the Mississippi rate. Food insecurity (40.5% vs 22.4%) and no reliable transportation (21.6% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 32.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Clarksdale
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (7%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (22.9%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 11.7%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Clarksdale runs above Mississippi on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Clarksdale’s likely range.
What’s behind Clarksdale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarksdale is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #97 of 101 in Mississippi. All seven of Clarksdale’s estimates fall in the lowest 12% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 22.9% of adults, against 15.5% across Mississippi and 12% 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). Clarksdale’s median household income is $36,382; among the 1,494 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Clarksdale compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 9.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.7% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
32.4% of Clarksdale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Clarksdale adults…
Clarksdale runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Clarksdale
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Clarksdale, 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 Clarksdale; ≈ 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.
5.2 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Clarksdale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Clarksdale adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Clarksdale runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Clarksdale 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.
Clarksdale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksdale | D− | 47.4% | 22.9% | 22% | CDC place |
| Lyon | — | — | — | — |
Lyon: 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 Clarksdale adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clarksdale
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clarksdale is better than Mississippi on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Clarksdale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clarksdale | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.9%31.1–38.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.3–20.7 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.5–22.2 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.4%39.4–55.8 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 22.9%20.3–25.6 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 54.5%50.2–59.1 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.7%36.3–45.4 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.2%30.7–37.9 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7%6.4–7.6 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.6%27.9–37.3 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22%18.9–25.1 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44%38.4–49.5 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.6%7.7–12 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.2%38.7–53.2 | 38.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%12.3–17.5 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.7%81.7–87.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.2–87.4 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.3–84 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.4%52.4–63.9 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.5%62.4–79.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.2%15.2–21.5 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.7%33.7–44.4 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.3%30.1–38.7 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 40.5%36.2–44.6 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 29.5%26.3–32.8 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.6%20–25.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.6%19.2–23.9 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.4%28.6–36.2 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.3%41.2–51.2 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 27.4%24.5–30.4 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.4–24.5 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12.4%11.3–13.7 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.8%14.1–17.6 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 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 Clarksdale
Is Clarksdale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarksdale is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #97 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clarksdale?
CDC estimates 47.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.4% and 55.8%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clarksdale?
Northwest Missississippi Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Clarksdale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clarksdale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.3–17.5%), 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 Clarksdale 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 Clarksdale.
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.