Photo: Woodlot · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Wiggins is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Wiggins trails Mississippi on 2 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wiggins. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wiggins
Wiggins looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 39% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 9% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Wiggins is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Wiggins is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Wiggins
The closest emergency room is Pearl River County Hospital in Poplarville, 23.8 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Coastal Family Health Center is closer (1.5 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
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 Wiggins’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Wiggins’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wiggins is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #62 of 101 in Mississippi. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 27% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Wiggins’ median household income is $49,870; among the 5,753 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 22%, 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 Wiggins is healthier than 38% of graded towns, against 9% nationally.
Care in and near Wiggins
1 community health center in Wiggins, 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 Wiggins; ≈ 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 Wiggins adults…
Wiggins runs above MS on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Wiggins adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Wiggins adults are doing
About the same as Mississippi on each measure.
4 in 10 Wiggins 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.8% of Wiggins adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Wiggins and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wiggins adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wiggins
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wiggins is better than Mississippi on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Wiggins’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wiggins | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.7%23–30.3 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%13.9–18.2 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16–20.8 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.9%35.4–52.8 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.7%13.5–17.9 | 15.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 46.1%41.6–50.6 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.2–43.2 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.1–34.1 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.7%8.3–11 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 4.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.9%21.3–30.7 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.5–22.9 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.6%31.7–43.4 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.3–16.8 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%32.8–47.6 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.9%10.5–15.7 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77–83.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%82.5–86.7 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.5–80.8 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.9%50.2–61.5 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.3%61.3–78.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.2–24 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37%31.7–42.5 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.7%26.4–35 | 28.9% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.3%20.7–28.2 | 22.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.9%15.3–20.6 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.3–13.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11–14.5 | 11.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.8%12.2–17.4 | 13.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.2%35.7–46.4 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.2%17.4–22.9 | 18.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%16.8–22.1 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%7.9–10.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.4 | 7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%10–12.9 | 10.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5–6.4 | 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 Wiggins
Is Wiggins a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wiggins is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #62 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wiggins?
CDC estimates 43.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 52.8%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wiggins?
Singing River Gulfport in Gulfport, 28.7 miles in a straight line from Wiggins’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wiggins have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.5–15.7%), 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 Wiggins 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 Wiggins.
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.