Photo: Dofftoubab · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Nicholson is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Nicholson trails Mississippi on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nicholson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nicholson
Nicholson is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Nicholson is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Nicholson
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (24.1%), vs 16.9% across Mississippi. Habits ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in Nicholson
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.8%), vs 8.6% across Mississippi. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 7.5% across Mississippi. 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 Nicholson’s likely range.
What’s behind Nicholson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #88 of 101 in Mississippi. All seven of Nicholson’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 24.1% of adults, against 16.9% across Mississippi and 11.8% 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). Nicholson’s median household income is $50,114; among the 5,839 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 5%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
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.
Out of every 100 Nicholson adults…
Nicholson runs above MS on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Nicholson
No hospital or community health center in Nicholson 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 Nicholson; ≈ 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 Nicholson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Nicholson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Nicholson runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Nicholson 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.
18.2% of Nicholson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Nicholson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Nicholson adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nicholson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nicholson is better than Mississippi on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Nicholson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nicholson | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.8%26.8–35.3 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.3–21.2 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.8–22.7 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.7%34.7–50.9 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.7–19.1 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 44.5%40.1–49 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%35.4–44.7 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.2–36.3 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.8%10.2–13.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.5–5.6 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.6–25.4 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 24.1%20.8–28 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.9%34.5–46 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.4–17 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%36.5–50.6 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.9%13.2–19 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%74.9–82.3 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%79.8–84.9 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.9–81.4 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.1%47.3–58.8 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68%59.3–76.4 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.4–26.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.5%32.2–43 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.3%25.2–33.8 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.7%24.5–33.2 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%16.8–22.5 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.5–15.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.2%15.2–21.6 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.9%39.7–50.3 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.4%19.6–25.5 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.3%19.6–25.3 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.9–11.3 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.3 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.3%11.6–15.2 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.1–7.9 | 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 Nicholson
Is Nicholson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nicholson is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #88 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 5%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Nicholson?
CDC estimates 42.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 50.9%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nicholson?
Highland Community Hospital in Picayune, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Nicholson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Nicholson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–19%), 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 Nicholson 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 Nicholson.
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.