Photo: Justinsanders · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Madison is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Madison differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Madison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Madison
Madison is the healthiest town in Mississippi we grade
Out of 101 Mississippi towns with a Health Grade, Madison comes first on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 92% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Madison is an active town
Only 20.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 34% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Madison
Madison runs below Mississippi on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.8% vs 8.6%), stroke (2.9% vs 4.5%) and diabetes (10.3% vs 15.5%). Conditions ↓
Few Madison adults smoke
8.8% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 16.9% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
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 Madison’s likely range.
What’s behind Madison’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #1 of 101 in Mississippi. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 97% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 77%.
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). Madison’s median household income is $119,338; among the 5,829 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$149K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
5.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Madison adults…
Madison runs below MS on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Madison
No hospital or community health center in Madison 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 Madison; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Madison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Madison adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Madison does better than Mississippi.
3 in 10 Madison 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.
3.1% of Madison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Madison and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Madison adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Madison
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Madison is better than Mississippi on 24 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Madison’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Madison | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.1%11.2–15.1 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10%8.7–11.4 | 14.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.7–13.9 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%24.4–37.3 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.8–11.8 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33–41.4 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.1–42.1 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%23.2–29.8 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.4%7.3–9.4 | 10% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.1 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6.1–9.3 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.8%7.4–10.4 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.7%17.1–24.5 | 34% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.6–18.5 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.7%21.4–32 | 38.4% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.4%4.5–6.4 | 11.5% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%79.5–85.5 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.3%90–92.5 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78.2–83.7 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%63.8–73.2 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.6%72.3–85.4 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.7%14.7–20.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%25.9–35.2 | 36.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.2%17.3–23.5 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%6–8.5 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.4%5.5–7.5 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.4–4.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.1%2.5–3.7 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26%22.2–29.7 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.5%9.1–11.9 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%3–3.6 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Madison
Is Madison a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #1 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Madison?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 37.3%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Madison?
Merit Health Madison in Canton, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Madison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Madison have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–6.4%), 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 Madison more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Madison.
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.