Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Mississippi, Hattiesburg is healthier than 59% of graded towns
Hattiesburg differs from Mississippi on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hattiesburg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Hattiesburg is healthier than 21%. Against the 4,456 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 58%. Health Grade ↓
Hattiesburg looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 59% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 21% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Hattiesburg
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. No reliable transportation (17.2% vs 11.9%) and utility shut-off threats (15.8% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 20.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg runs below Mississippi on four chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.5% vs 7.6%), heart disease (6% vs 7.5%) and arthritis (24.5% vs 29.9%). A young population is part of it: only 13% 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 Hattiesburg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Hattiesburg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hattiesburg is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #42 of 101 in Mississippi. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 49% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Hattiesburg’s median household income is $46,342; among the 4,456 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Hattiesburg compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32.3% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.5% (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.
20.7% of Hattiesburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Hattiesburg adults…
Hattiesburg runs below MS on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Hattiesburg
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Hattiesburg, 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 Hattiesburg; ≈ 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.
26 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Hattiesburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Hattiesburg adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Hattiesburg runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Hattiesburg 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.
Hattiesburg and the towns around it
Hattiesburg’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | C− | 38.5% | 13.6% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| West Hattiesburg | D | 44.2% | 14.9% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| Arnold Line | C+ | 41.7% | 12.1% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Rawls Springs | C+ | 39.2% | 14.9% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Petal | C+ | 34.4% | 12.6% | 16.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hattiesburg adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hattiesburg
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hattiesburg is better than Mississippi on 8 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Hattiesburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hattiesburg | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.4%22.8–28.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.6–15.8 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.2–22.4 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%32.4–44.2 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.6%12–15.1 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%36.2–43.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28.7–35.5 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.5%21.9–26.9 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.5–6.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17.4–23.6 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.2–18.2 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.2%28.9–37.2 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.6–16.3 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.9%36.5–47.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%11.2–14.5 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.6–82.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%78.6–82.5 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71.9–76.3 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%57.1–66.3 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.1–80.3 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.3–24.2 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39%35–43.7 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.6%26.4–33.3 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31%28.2–34.1 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.9%19.7–24.3 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.8%14.2–17.6 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.2%15.6–19 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%18.4–23 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%36.5–44.6 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%15.2–18.7 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%19.1–23.3 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.3%7.6–9 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%11.3–13.7 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 5.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Hattiesburg
Is Hattiesburg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hattiesburg is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #42 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hattiesburg?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 44.2%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hattiesburg?
Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Hattiesburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hattiesburg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.2–14.5%), 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 Hattiesburg more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hattiesburg.
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.