Pearl River’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Pearl River differs from Mississippi on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pearl River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pearl River
Pearl River is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Pearl River is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Pearl River
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.6%), vs 17.3% across Mississippi. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 35.7%, vs 28.9% across Mississippi. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Pearl River
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (28.1%), 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 Pearl River’s likely range.
What’s behind Pearl River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearl River is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #99 of 101 in Mississippi. All seven of Pearl River’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 28.1% 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). Pearl River’s median household income is $50,922; among the 6,110 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pearl River compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
How Pearl River adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Pearl River runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Pearl River 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
Out of every 100 Pearl River adults…
Pearl River runs below MS on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pearl River
No hospital or community health center in Pearl River 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 Pearl River; ≈ 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 Pearl River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.3% of Pearl River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Pearl River and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl River | D− | 45.1% | 16.9% | 28.1% | CDC place |
| Philadelphia | D− | 46.7% | 19.6% | 21.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pearl River adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pearl River
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pearl River is better than Mississippi on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Pearl River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pearl River | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.4%28–37.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17–22.4 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.6%20.7–26.9 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.1%37.8–53.1 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.5%35.5–44 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31.1–39.3 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.4–31.9 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13%11.4–14.9 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5–6.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.9%8.4–11.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.2 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.8%26.2–35.7 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28.1%23.9–33 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.1%33.3–45.6 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%12.9–19.3 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42%35.1–49.2 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%11.6–19.1 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%73.3–81.2 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.1%76.7–83.4 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.6%70.6–76.6 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 51.6%46.1–57.2 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.4%52.8–71.5 | 74% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20–27.5 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 42%36–48 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.7%30.6–40.8 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.2%31.2–43.4 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.4%22.4–30.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.5%14.9–20.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.7%18.5–25.1 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.3%17–26.1 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.3%40.7–52.5 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.7%18.8–25 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25.2%21.8–29.3 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.6%9.1–12.3 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.7%12.5–17.3 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 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 Pearl River
Is Pearl River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearl River is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #99 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pearl River?
CDC estimates 45.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.8% and 53.1%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pearl River?
Neshoba County General Hospital in Philadelphia, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Pearl River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pearl River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–19.1%), 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 Pearl River 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 Pearl River.
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.