Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY-SA 4.0Where West residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for West, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West
Stroke, COPD and heart disease run high in West
1 in 12 adults have had a stroke (8.2%), vs 4.5% across Mississippi. 1 in 6 adults have COPD (15.4%), vs 8.6% across Mississippi. Heart disease is also above the state: 13.1%, vs 7.5% across Mississippi. In all, West runs above Mississippi on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
West is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
West’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 ↓
Making ends meet is harder in West
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30.8%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (15.4% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (15.4% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 23% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in West, and more people treating it
59.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Mississippi 44.9%), but 85.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 West’s likely range.
Out of every 100 West adults…
West runs above MS on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West
No hospital or community health center in West 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 West; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23% of West adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Keeping up with care
Share of West adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
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 West adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
2 in 5 West 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.
West and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in West
Why doesn’t West have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for West.
What hospital is closest to West?
Baptist Medical Center Attala in Kosciusko, 14.6 miles in a straight line from West’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near West?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Durant Clinic in Durant, 8.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West.
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. 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.