Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Shaw’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Shaw differs from Mississippi on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shaw. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shaw
Shaw is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Shaw is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Shaw
1 in 13 adults have had a stroke (7.6%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (25.8%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 12.2%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Shaw runs above Mississippi on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Shaw
45.5% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.4% across Mississippi (about twice the Mississippi rate). Utility shut-off threats (24.5% vs 11.2%) and housing insecurity (32.9% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 36.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Shaw, and more people treating it
58.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 83.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Shaw is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Shaw is healthier than 1%. Against the 611 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 18%. Health Grade ↓
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 Shaw’s likely range.
What’s behind Shaw’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Shaw’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 25.8% of adults, against 15.5% across Mississippi and 12% 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). Shaw’s median household income is $30,469; among the 611 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Shaw compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 8.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 86.1% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Shaw adults…
Shaw runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. 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.
36.3% of Shaw adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Keeping up with care
Share of Shaw adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Care in and near Shaw
No hospital or community health center in Shaw 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 Shaw; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Shaw adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Shaw runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Shaw 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.
Shaw and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw | D− | 52.6% | 25.8% | 23.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shaw adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shaw
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shaw is better than Mississippi on 4 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Shaw’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shaw | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 38.7%33.5–43.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.4–21.7 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.2–22.2 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 52.6%45.2–59.9 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 25.8%22.8–28.8 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 58.7%54.5–62.7 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.8–45.5 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36%32.4–39.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–14 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.7–6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.1–14.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.6%6.7–8.7 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34.8%29.7–39.9 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.4%19.2–27.6 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 49.3%42.8–55.4 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 8.8%7–10.8 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.8%37.1–51 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.7%11.8–19.7 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 86.1%83.2–88.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%83.7–88.8 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.3%81–85.5 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%54.3–65.5 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.5%62.3–79.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.4%14.6–20.4 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.3%35.9–46.9 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 37%32.1–42.1 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 45.5%38.5–52.2 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 32.9%27.9–37.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 24.5%20.8–28 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 22.8%19.3–26.3 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.3%29.5–42.5 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.4%41.6–52.8 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 29.8%26–33.8 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22%18.8–25.4 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 13.5%11.6–15.5 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.4%14–18.9 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10.6%8.9–12.4 | 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 Shaw
Is Shaw a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shaw?
CDC estimates 52.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 45.2% and 59.9%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shaw?
Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, 10.7 miles in a straight line from Shaw’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shaw have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–19.7%), 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 Shaw 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 Shaw.
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.