Eureka Masonic College · Photo: NatalieMaynor · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Goodman is healthier than 60%
Goodman differs from Mississippi on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Goodman. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Goodman
Goodman is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Goodman is healthier than 5%. Against the 5 towns with similar household incomes ($11K–$19K), it’s healthier than 60%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Goodman
1 in 4 adults lack reliable transportation (26.3%), more than twice the Mississippi rate. Food insecurity (44.6% vs 22.4%) and utility shut-off threats (23.2% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 33.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Goodman
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (24.4%), vs 17.3% across Mississippi. Loneliness is above the state too: 48.9%, vs 36.4% across Mississippi. Mind & connection ↓
Goodman is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Goodman is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Goodman
Goodman runs below Mississippi on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3% vs 7.6%), arthritis (21.9% vs 29.9%) and heart disease (5.6% vs 7.5%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Mississippi 17%). 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 Goodman’s likely range.
What’s behind Goodman’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goodman is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 24% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Goodman’s median household income is $15,039; among the 5 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($11K–$19K), it’s healthier than 60%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Goodman compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 30.4% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 21.9% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 3% (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.
33.2% of Goodman adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
How Goodman adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Goodman runs above Mississippi.
1 in 2 Goodman 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.
Out of every 100 Goodman adults…
Goodman runs below MS on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Goodman residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Goodman
No hospital or community health center in Goodman 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 Goodman; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Goodman adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Goodman and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodman | D− | 45.5% | 15.1% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Goodman adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Goodman
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Goodman is better than Mississippi on 4 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Goodman’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Goodman | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.5%27.3–38.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.5–18.4 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.4%21.1–27.8 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.5%37.1–53.3 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.2–16.9 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.9%36.8–45 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.4%26.6–34.2 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.9%19.3–24.5 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12%10.4–13.6 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3%2.7–3.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.6%7.2–10.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.5%3.9–5 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 29.9%25–35.4 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%16.4–23.8 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 40.2%33.8–47 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.1–15.7 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%34.7–49.8 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%11.8–21.8 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.1–83 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73%67.8–77.8 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.6%66.2–71.1 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58%52.2–64.1 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%65.8–82 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.7%18.2–25.4 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 48.9%42.5–55.1 | 36.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 37.6%32–43.4 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 44.6%37–52.9 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31%26–36.5 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 23.2%19.7–26.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 26.3%22–31.3 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.2%27–40.3 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.6%40.2–53.2 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19%16.3–21.9 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 27.8%23.4–33 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 11.6%9.9–14 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.1%14.4–20.6 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.6–8.9 | 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 Goodman
Is Goodman a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goodman is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Goodman?
CDC estimates 45.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 53.3%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Goodman?
Holmes County Hospital and Clinics in Lexington, 12.0 miles in a straight line from Goodman’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Goodman have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–21.8%), 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 Goodman 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 Goodman.
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.