Waverley · Photo: Jack E. Boucher, Photographer · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Columbus AFB is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Columbus AFB differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus AFB. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus AFB
Binge drinking is the habit Columbus AFB doesn’t win on
24.3% of adults binge drink, vs 13.6% across Mississippi, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Columbus AFB
Columbus AFB runs below Mississippi on ten chronic conditions, most of all stroke (0.7% vs 4.5%), heart disease (1.3% vs 7.5%) and diabetes (2.7% vs 15.5%). A young population is part of it: only 0% of residents are 65 or older (Mississippi 17%). Conditions ↓
Columbus AFB is an active town
Only 16.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 34% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
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 Columbus AFB’s likely range.
What’s behind Columbus AFB’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus AFB is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Columbus AFB’s median household income is $69,539; among the 10,482 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Columbus AFB adults…
Columbus AFB runs below MS on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of Columbus AFB residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Columbus AFB
No hospital or community health center in Columbus AFB 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 Columbus AFB; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus AFB adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Columbus AFB adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
2 in 5 Columbus AFB 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.2% of Columbus AFB adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Columbus AFB and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus AFB | A | 24% | 2.7% | 7.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus AFB adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus AFB
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus AFB is better than Mississippi on 20 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Columbus AFB’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus AFB | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.6%8.2–14.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 6.7%5.4–8.3 | 14.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%14.4–20.9 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24%19–29.8 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 2.7%2.3–3.2 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 15.7%13.2–18.6 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 18%15.2–21 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 6.5%5.4–7.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 10% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 1.6%1.4–1.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.3%1.1–1.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 1.9%1.4–2.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.7%0.6–0.8 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.3–11.6 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.5%5.2–10.6 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.3%12.5–21.4 | 34% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 24.3%20.1–28.6 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%26.6–37.3 | 38.4% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%6.3–13.3 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.4%64–74 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.1%69.3–79.7 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 39.1%34.7–43.4 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.6%48.1–57.5 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%71.4–84.7 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%17.7–24.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.4%33.5–45.6 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%20.1–30.4 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11%7.7–15.9 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%6.6–11.9 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4–6.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%6.2–10.7 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.2%2.8–6.1 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.1%19.3–30.4 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 3.5%2.8–4.4 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%12.4–20.5 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 2.9%2.4–3.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.3–3.6 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.6%4.3–7.5 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.2%1–1.5 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Columbus AFB
Is Columbus AFB a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus AFB is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus AFB?
CDC estimates 24% of adults have obesity, likely between 19% and 29.8%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus AFB?
BMH-Golden Triangle in Columbus, 7.1 miles in a straight line from Columbus AFB’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbus AFB have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–13.3%), 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 Columbus AFB more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbus AFB.
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.