Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Merigold residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Merigold, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merigold. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merigold
Diabetes, stroke and COPD run high in Merigold
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.2%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (6%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 11.2%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Merigold runs above Mississippi on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Merigold
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.8%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (16.5% vs 11.2%) and housing insecurity (22.2% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 22.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Merigold adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.6%), vs 34% 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 Merigold’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Merigold adults…
Merigold runs above MS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.5% of Merigold adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
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.
Care in and near Merigold
No hospital or community health center in Merigold 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 Merigold; ≈ 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 Merigold adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Merigold adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Merigold 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.
Merigold and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merigold adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Merigold
Why doesn’t Merigold have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Merigold.
What hospital is closest to Merigold?
Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Merigold’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Merigold?
4 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Delta Health Center Mobile Health Unit #1 (DHC Mhu1) in Mound Bayou, 2.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merigold.
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. 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.