Charles McLaran House · Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Columbus is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Columbus differs from Mississippi on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
Columbus looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 41% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 9% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Columbus
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31.6%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (16.8% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (16.8% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 23.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke and diabetes run high in Columbus
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. In all, Columbus runs above Mississippi on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Columbus adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.1%), vs 34% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
Columbus is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbus is healthier than 9%. Against the 3,110 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 38%. 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 Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #60 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 30% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
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’ median household income is $42,235; among the 3,110 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 38%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Mississippi towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Columbus is healthier than 40% of graded towns, against 9% nationally.
Where Columbus compares well: binge drinking, 11.1% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.2% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs above MS on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Columbus
1 hospital in Columbus, 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 Columbus; ≈ 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 adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Columbus adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
2 in 5 Columbus 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.
Columbus and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | D | 41.3% | 19% | 18.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.6%26.5–32.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.4–18.1 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.3 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%34.8–48 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19%16.8–21.3 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.4%45.5–53.3 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.7–41.7 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.5%27.4–33.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.1%9–11.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.3–6.2 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.8%21.9–30.3 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%16.3–21 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 39.1%34.4–43.7 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.1%9.1–13.4 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.1%37.6–49.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%11.3–15.2 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.1%80.1–85.8 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.6–87.4 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%79.1–83.5 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%57.2–67.3 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70.5–83.6 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%15.9–21.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.3%33.8–43.6 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.8–35.7 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.6%28.5–35.1 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.6%20.2–25.4 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.8%15–18.9 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.8%15–18.7 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.2%20.5–26.2 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.1%38.8–47.3 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.3%20.9–25.7 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.8%17.7–21.8 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.9%9.1–10.8 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%12–14.7 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 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 Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #60 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 48%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
BMH-Golden Triangle in Columbus, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–15.2%), 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 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 Columbus.
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.