Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Water Valley is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Water Valley differs from Mississippi on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Water Valley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Water Valley
Water Valley is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Water Valley is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Water Valley
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), vs 7.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), vs 8.6% across Mississippi. Stroke is also above the state: 6%, vs 4.5% across Mississippi. In all, Water Valley runs above Mississippi on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Water Valley
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.5%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (13.5% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 18.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Water Valley, and more people treating it
51.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 82.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Water Valley is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Water Valley is healthier than 8%. Against the 3,249 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 34%. 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 Water Valley’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Water Valley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Water Valley is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #67 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 35% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Water Valley’s median household income is $42,684; among the 3,249 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Mississippi towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Water Valley is healthier than 34% of graded towns, against 8% nationally.
Where Water Valley compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Water Valley adults…
Water Valley runs above MS on 8 of 12 conditions. 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.
18.3% of Water Valley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Keeping up with care
Share of Water Valley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Care in and near Water Valley
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Water Valley, 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 Water Valley; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Water Valley adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Water Valley 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.
Water Valley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Valley | D | 40% | 19% | 20.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Water Valley adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Water Valley
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Water Valley is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Water Valley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Water Valley | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.8%25.6–34.3 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15–19.9 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.6–20.3 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40%31.1–49.6 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19%16.4–21.7 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51.1%46.2–56 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.2%37.2–47.1 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.5%31.5–39.6 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9–11.9 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.5%9.8–13.5 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.3–6.8 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.5%20.2–29.2 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%16.8–23.6 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 40.1%33.8–46.5 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.3%9–14.1 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.8%30.4–43.9 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%10.6–16 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.1–85.7 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.2–88.4 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.5%80–84.8 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%57.2–67.9 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%63.4–79.8 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.5%16.1–23.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%30.5–42 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30%25.6–34.5 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.5%23.2–31.7 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.4%16.5–22.3 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.5%11.5–15.4 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.9%12–15.8 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.3%15–21.7 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%38.5–49.7 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%21.1–28.1 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%16.8–22.2 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.4–12.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8–10.4 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.1–14.8 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6–8 | 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 Water Valley
Is Water Valley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Water Valley is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #67 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Water Valley?
CDC estimates 40% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 49.6%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Water Valley?
Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS in Oxford, 14.2 miles in a straight line from Water Valley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Water Valley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.6–16%), 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 Water Valley 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 Water Valley.
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.