Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Shelby’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Shelby differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shelby. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shelby
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Shelby
1 in 11 adults have had a stroke (8.8%), about twice the Mississippi rate. 3 in 10 adults have diabetes (28%), vs 15.5% across Mississippi. COPD is also above the state: 14.6%, vs 8.6% across Mississippi. In all, Shelby runs above Mississippi on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Shelby
3 in 10 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (29.9%), more than twice the Mississippi rate. Food insecurity (52.5% vs 22.4%) and no reliable transportation (27.5% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 45.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Shelby adults get no exercise
53.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 Shelby’s likely range.
What’s behind Shelby’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shelby is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Shelby’s estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 55.1% of adults, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% 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). Shelby’s median household income is $25,948; among the 266 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($19K–$32K), it’s healthier than 10%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Shelby compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 8.4% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.9% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Shelby adults…
Shelby 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.
45.7% of Shelby 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Shelby
No hospital or community health center in Shelby 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 Shelby; ≈ 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 Shelby adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Shelby adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Shelby runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Shelby 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.
Shelby and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | D− | 55.1% | 28% | 26.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shelby adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shelby
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shelby is better than Mississippi on 4 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Shelby’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shelby | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 43.6%38.1–49.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.3–24.4 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.4%18.7–24.4 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 55.1%47.6–62.4 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 28%24.7–31.3 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 60.5%56.1–64.7 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.4%37–45.9 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.5%33.8–41.2 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13%11.3–14.8 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.7–6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.9%9.4–12.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.6%12.2–17.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 8.8%7.6–10 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.2%27.8–36.7 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.4%21.9–31.4 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 53.5%46.9–59.9 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 8.4%6.7–10.2 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.6%38–51.7 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.8%13.5–23 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.9%83.1–88.4 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%81.8–87.1 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.8%80.6–84.9 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.8%50–61.4 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68–82.7 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.5%15.4–21.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 42%36.3–47.6 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 37.3%32.2–42.3 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 52.5%45.3–59.3 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 37.5%32.1–42.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 29.9%25.8–33.9 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 27.5%23.5–32 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 45.7%38.6–52.6 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 51.9%46.1–57.8 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 33.7%29.5–38.1 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25%21.4–29.1 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 16.7%14.3–19.5 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 19.8%16.8–23.2 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 13.2%11.2–15.5 | 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 Shelby
Is Shelby a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shelby is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shelby?
CDC estimates 55.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 47.6% and 62.4%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shelby?
Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, 14.4 miles in a straight line from Shelby’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shelby have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.5–23%), 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 Shelby more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Shelby.
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.