Boler's Inn · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Union is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Union differs from Mississippi on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Union. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Union
Union is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Union’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Union is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Union is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, diabetes and exercise. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Union
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), vs 8.6% across Mississippi. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 7.5% across Mississippi. Stroke is also above the state: 6%, vs 4.5% across Mississippi. In all, Union runs above Mississippi on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Union is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Union is healthier than 9%. Against the 3,876 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$56K), it’s healthier than 33%. 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 Union’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Union’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 37% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Union’s median household income is $44,643; among the 3,876 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$56K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Union compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Care in and near Union
1 hospital in Union, 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 Union; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Union adults…
Union runs above MS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Union adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Union adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Union 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.
15.8% of Union adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Union and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | D | 41% | 17.6% | 18.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Union adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Union
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Union is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Union’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Union | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.7%25.4–32.3 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.5–19.5 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%16–19.7 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%34.8–47.3 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.6–19.6 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.6%44.9–52.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%37.4–44.9 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.6%32.5–38.5 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.8–10.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%9–11.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.5%9.9–13.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.3–6.7 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.3%24.6–32.2 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%16.2–21.5 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%33.7–43.1 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%10–14 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.6%32.7–43.1 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%10.6–15.2 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.5–84.8 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.4–88.2 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.3%80.3–84.2 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.8%54.4–63.5 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%62–75.5 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%17.5–22.9 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.3%32–40.8 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%25.3–32.2 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.4%21.4–27.9 | 22.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.9–19.3 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11.4–14.5 | 11.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%13.4–18.4 | 13.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.1%39.9–48.3 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.3%21.6–27.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.5%17.3–21.9 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.1%11.4–14.8 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 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 Union
Is Union a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Union?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 47.3%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Union?
Ochsner Laird Hospital in Union, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Union’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Union have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.6–15.2%), 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 Union 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 Union.
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.