Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Vardaman is healthier than 61%
Vardaman differs from Mississippi on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vardaman. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vardaman
1 in 5 working-age adults in Vardaman has no health insurance
19.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.5% across Mississippi. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Vardaman
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.3%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Housing insecurity (20.5% vs 16.8%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Vardaman is short on dental care and mental health care
Vardaman’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Vardaman is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Vardaman is healthier than 12%. Against the 1,976 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 61%. 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 Vardaman’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Vardaman’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vardaman is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Vardaman’s median household income is $38,456; among the 1,976 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Vardaman compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Vardaman 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.
15.6% of Vardaman adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Care in and near Vardaman
No hospital or community health center in Vardaman 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 Vardaman; ≈ 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 Vardaman adults…
Vardaman runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Vardaman residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Mississippi. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
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 Vardaman adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
2 in 5 Vardaman 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.
Vardaman and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vardaman | D | 40.9% | 16.7% | 17.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vardaman adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vardaman
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vardaman is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Vardaman’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vardaman | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.5%24.7–32.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14–18.2 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.6–20 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%32.6–49.5 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.6–18.9 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.7%39.3–48.1 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33–42 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.1–31.8 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.4–11 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.6–25.5 | 18.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%14.8–20.5 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.2%31.6–42.8 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.4–15.9 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%33.3–47.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.3%15.8–23 | 11.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%75.4–82.7 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%81.9–86.5 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.6–80.8 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.4%53.2–63.8 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%65.4–80.8 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%15.5–21.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.5%32.1–43.1 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30%25.8–34.6 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.3%23.3–31.8 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.5%17.7–23.8 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%10.7–14.4 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.8%12–15.9 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.6%12.9–18.6 | 13.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%35.4–45.7 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.4–22.8 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.6%17.1–22.2 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–9.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%9.7–12.8 | 10.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.2–6.8 | 5.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Vardaman
Is Vardaman a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vardaman is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vardaman?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 49.5%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vardaman?
BMH-Calhoun in Calhoun City, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Vardaman’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Vardaman have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.8–23%), 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 Vardaman 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 Vardaman.
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.