Photo: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0Within Mississippi, Waveland is healthier than 60% of graded towns
Waveland differs from Mississippi on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waveland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waveland
Waveland looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 60% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 25% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Waveland adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Mississippi. 1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.4% of adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Waveland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Waveland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waveland is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #41 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 44% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Waveland’s median household income is $68,693; among the 10,415 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11% of Waveland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Out of every 100 Waveland adults…
Waveland runs below MS on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waveland
No hospital or community health center in Waveland 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 Waveland; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Waveland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Waveland adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
1 in 3 Waveland 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.
Waveland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waveland | C | 38.9% | 14% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Bay St. Louis | C+ | 37.1% | 14.5% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waveland adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waveland
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waveland is better than Mississippi on 6 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Waveland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waveland | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.6–25.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.2–16.9 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.7 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%31.3–47.3 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.2–16 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%37.3–46.2 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%35.9–45 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.4–34.6 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.7–9.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.4 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.1–17.9 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.5–19.6 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%26.9–36.8 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.1–17.9 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%29.3–42.9 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.7–83.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.6–88.3 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77–82.4 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%58.4–69 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%66.1–81.3 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.6%17.4–24.3 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28–38.4 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%21.7–29.3 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%15.5–20.8 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%11.9–16 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.9–10.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.8–11.3 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11%9.3–12.9 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%32.3–41.8 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.3–19.9 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.1–19.1 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 10.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 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 Waveland
Is Waveland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waveland is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #41 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waveland?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 47.3%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waveland?
Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock in Bay Saint Louis, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Waveland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waveland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.5%), 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 Waveland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waveland.
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.