Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY 4.0Como’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Como differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Como. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Como
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Como
1 in 10 adults have had a stroke (9.7%), about twice the Mississippi rate. 1 in 5 adults have COPD (18.2%), about twice the Mississippi rate. Diabetes is also above the state: 29.1%, vs 15.5% across Mississippi. In all, Como runs above Mississippi on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Mississippi 17%), and stroke, COPD and diabetes are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Como adults get no exercise
54.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 34% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
Como is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Como is healthier than fewer than 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Como, and more people treating it
61% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 85.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Como is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Como is healthier than 0%. Against the 102 towns with similar household incomes ($16K–$27K), it’s healthier than 15%. 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 Como’s likely range.
What’s behind Como’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Como is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Como’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 54.6% of adults, against 34% across Mississippi and 24.7% 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). Como’s median household income is $21,404; among the 102 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($16K–$27K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Como compares well: binge drinking, 8.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.8% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 85.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Como adults…
Como runs above MS on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Como is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Como as about how healthy they are.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Como adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Care in and near Como
No hospital or community health center in Como 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 Como; ≈ 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).
How Como adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Como runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Como 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.
41.7% of Como adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Como and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Como | D− | 54.6% | 29.1% | 28.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Como adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Como
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Como is better than Mississippi on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Como’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Como | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 44.3%39.9–49 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.1%20.5–26 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.2–23 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 54.6%46.6–62.7 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 29.1%26–32.4 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 61%56.8–65.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.7%40.2–49.3 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 42%38–45.9 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.5–13.5 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 13.8%12.4–15.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 18.2%16–20.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 9.7%8.8–10.8 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 48.4%42.5–54.3 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28.9%25.1–32.8 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 54.6%48.8–60.4 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 8.8%7–10.8 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.8%35.8–49.8 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.2%14.7–21.8 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.8%81.8–87.4 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.8–87 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.2%83.2–87.2 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.2%50.7–61.4 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.3%59.6–76.3 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%16.9–23.4 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.6%32.6–43.2 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.2%29.8–38.9 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 47.7%42.7–52.8 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.1%27.3–35 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 25.2%22.2–28.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 23.9%21.1–26.8 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 41.7%36.9–46.8 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 56.2%51.1–61.3 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 37%33.4–40.7 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.9%22.1–28 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.3%11–13.8 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 16.9%15.2–18.8 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 20.1%17.9–22.6 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 13.2%11.7–14.8 | 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 Como
Is Como a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Como is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Como?
CDC estimates 54.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 46.6% and 62.7%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Como?
Highland Hills Medical Center in Senatobia, 7.8 miles in a straight line from Como’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Como have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–21.8%), 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 Como more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Como.
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.