US Post Office-Forest · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Forest is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Forest differs from Mississippi on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest
Forest is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Forest is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Forest
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (35.5%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Housing insecurity (26.2% vs 16.8%) and no reliable transportation (17.8% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 22.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Forest has no health insurance
23.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.5% across Mississippi. Checkups ↓
Forest looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 25% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 5% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. 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 Forest’s likely range.
What’s behind Forest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #76 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 21% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Forest’s median household income is $49,724; among the 5,694 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 12%, 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 Forest is healthier than 25% of graded towns, against 5% nationally.
Where Forest compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.1% of Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Forest adults…
Forest runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Forest
1 hospital in Forest, 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 Forest; ≈ 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.
How Forest adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Forest runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Forest 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.
Forest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | D− | 43.8% | 17.8% | 19.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Forest adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Forest
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Forest is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Forest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Forest | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.8%28.1–35.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.1–19.4 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.6–21.2 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.8%35.8–52 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.8%15.7–20.1 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.9%39.7–48.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%33.6–42.3 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.3–31.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.2%8–10.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5%4.5–5.5 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%20.9–29.1 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.4%16.6–22.4 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 42.9%37.4–48.8 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%9.9–14.9 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%33.9–47.7 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23.1%19.3–27 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.6–82.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.1–85.2 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.4–80.3 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.1%54.8–65.3 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%66.3–81.3 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%15.7–22.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.2%34.5–45.6 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34%29.3–38.5 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.5%30.5–40.2 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.2%22.6–29.8 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.5%14.2–18.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.8%15.4–20.2 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.1%18.5–25.7 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.9%38.9–49.1 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%19.6–25 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%19.3–24.6 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13%11.5–14.6 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.3–7.9 | 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 Forest
Is Forest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #76 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 Forest?
CDC estimates 43.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.8% and 52%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Forest?
S E Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Forest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 19.3–27%), 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 Forest 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 Forest.
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.