Photo: Kevin magee · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Mississippi, Pearl is healthier than 66% of graded towns
Pearl beats Mississippi on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pearl. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pearl
Pearl is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pearl is healthier than 38%. Against the 9,331 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 57%. Health Grade ↓
Pearl looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 66% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 38% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Pearl adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Mississippi. 1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.4% of adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Pearl
Grades next door run from Flowood (A−) to Jackson (D). Pearl is a C+. Around town ↓
Stroke and diabetes are less common in Pearl
Pearl runs below Mississippi on four chronic conditions, most of all stroke (3.6% vs 4.5%), diabetes (12.9% vs 15.5%) and heart disease (6.3% vs 7.5%). 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 Pearl’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Pearl’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearl is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #35 of 101 in Mississippi. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 59% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 20%).
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’s median household income is $61,695; among the 9,331 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.1% of Pearl adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Pearl and the towns around it
Pearl’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Out of every 100 Pearl adults…
Pearl runs below MS on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pearl
1 community health center in Pearl, 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 Pearl; ≈ 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.
4.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Pearl adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Pearl adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Pearl 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pearl adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pearl
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pearl is better than Mississippi on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Pearl’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pearl | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%18.6–23.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12–15.4 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.2–19.3 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%31.8–45.8 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 41.2%37.1–45.4 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%34–42.4 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25–31.3 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.6–17.2 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%13–17.4 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.6%26.2–35.2 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.5–18.2 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%34.2–45.9 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%9.3–12.5 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.7–83.2 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.3–87.9 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.4–79.8 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%57.5–67.5 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.4–82.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.2–23.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37%32.2–42 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.8%24.2–31.7 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.5%16.2–21.1 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%8–10.4 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%9–11.4 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.1%8.6–11.7 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%31–39.5 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%13.9–17.9 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%15–18.8 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 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 Pearl
Is Pearl a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearl is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #35 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pearl?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 45.8%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pearl?
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital in Brandon, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Pearl’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pearl have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.5%), 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 more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pearl.
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.