Lyceum-The Circle Historic District · Photo: The original uploader was Enjoybeta at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, University is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
University differs from Mississippi on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for University. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in University
Binge drinking is the habit University doesn’t win on
22.3% of adults binge drink, vs 13.6% across Mississippi, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Mental distress runs high in University
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (27.3%), vs 17.3% across Mississippi. Depression is above the state too: 28.5%, vs 19.5% across Mississippi. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in University
University runs below Mississippi on nine chronic conditions, most of all cancer (0.8% vs 7.6%), diabetes (1.7% vs 15.5%) and heart disease (0.9% vs 7.5%). A young population is part of it: only 0% of residents are 65 or older (Mississippi 17%). 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 University’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind University’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #5 of 101 in Mississippi. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Few Mississippi towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state University is healthier than 96% of graded towns, against 81% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How University adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, University runs above Mississippi.
5 in 10 University 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.
Out of every 100 University adults…
University runs below MS on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of University residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near University
No hospital or community health center in University 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 University; ≈ 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 University 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.
10.3% of University adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
University and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | A− | 26.3% | 1.7% | 8.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of University adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for University
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, University is better than Mississippi on 15 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside University’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | University | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%11.6–19.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.2%7.1–10.9 | 14.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 27.3%22.1–31.1 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%20.4–32.7 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 1.7%1.4–2 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 13%10.5–15.8 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 14.3%11.8–17.2 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 5.5%4.4–6.7 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.4–12.6 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 0.8%0.7–0.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 0.9%0.7–1.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.5%1.8–3.1 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.6%0.5–0.7 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 31.3%25.6–37.2 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.5%5.5–11.2 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%16.5–29.6 | 34% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.3%18.3–26.7 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%29.1–41.6 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%6.8–13.5 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.3%66.4–75.9 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 63.9%58.2–69.5 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 23.8%19.4–29 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 47.1%41.7–52.8 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%64–80.3 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%24–33.3 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 47.4%40.8–53.4 | 36.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%21.4–32.3 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.8%14.7–27.9 | 22.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.5%9.4–16.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%6.1–10.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.4%12.2–19.5 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%6.4–13.9 | 13.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.7%29.1–43 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 4.2%3.1–5.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 27.7%21.3–32.3 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 2.9%2.4–3.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%3.8–5.9 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%8.9–14.5 | 10.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.6%1.3–1.9 | 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 University
Is University a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #5 of 101 in Mississippi. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in University?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.4% and 32.7%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to University?
Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS in Oxford, 1.1 miles in a straight line from University’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in University have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–13.5%), 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 University more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in University.
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.