Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Itta Bena’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Itta Bena differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Itta Bena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Itta Bena
Making ends meet is harder in Itta Bena
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (26.9%), more than twice the Mississippi rate. Food insecurity (47.2% vs 22.4%) and no reliable transportation (24.5% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 39.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Itta Bena
1 in 13 adults have had a stroke (7.8%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (26%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 12.7%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Itta Bena runs above Mississippi on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Itta Bena is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Itta Bena is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Itta Bena, and more people treating it
57.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 83.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Itta Bena’s likely range.
What’s behind Itta Bena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Itta Bena is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Itta Bena’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 26% of adults, against 15.5% across Mississippi and 12% 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). Itta Bena’s median household income is $36,033; among the 1,438 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($27K–$45K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Itta Bena compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 9.5% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.8% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
39.5% of Itta Bena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Itta Bena adults…
Itta Bena runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Itta Bena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Care in and near Itta Bena
1 community health center in Itta Bena, 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 Itta Bena; ≈ 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 Itta Bena adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Itta Bena runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Itta Bena 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.
Itta Bena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itta Bena | D− | 48.8% | 26% | 24.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Itta Bena adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Itta Bena
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Itta Bena is better than Mississippi on 4 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Itta Bena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Itta Bena | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 38.6%33.7–43.5 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%16.8–22.2 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.3–22.8 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.8%40.6–56.7 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 26%22.9–29.2 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 57.4%52.8–61.7 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.7–44.8 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.1%31.2–38.8 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.7–14.1 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.7–6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.7%10.6–14.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 35.7%30.3–41.2 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.1%20–28.3 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 47%40.5–53.4 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.5%7.5–11.8 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.8%38.9–52.8 | 38.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.3%11.7–19.4 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.8%82.8–88.4 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%82.6–87.8 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.1%80.8–85.3 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.6%49.9–61.1 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%66.1–81.6 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.5%14.4–20.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.8%34.1–45.4 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.4%30.4–40.5 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 47.2%40.6–53.7 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 33.6%28.7–38.4 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 26.9%23.2–30.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 24.5%21–28.2 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 39.5%33.1–46 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.5%42.6–54 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 30.3%26.5–34.1 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.9%19.7–26.4 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.6–8.7 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 14.3%12.4–16.5 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.5%15–20.1 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 11.4%9.8–13.2 | 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 Itta Bena
Is Itta Bena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Itta Bena is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Itta Bena?
CDC estimates 48.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.6% and 56.7%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Itta Bena?
Greenwood Leflore Hospital in Greenwood, 7.4 miles in a straight line from Itta Bena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Itta Bena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.7–19.4%), 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 Itta Bena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Itta Bena.
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.