Photo: Colin1769 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Belle Meade is healthier than 41%
Belle Meade differs from Tennessee on 27 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 26 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Belle Meade. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Belle Meade
Against towns with similar incomes, Belle Meade’s lead shrinks
Belle Meade is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, but 41% of the 436 towns with similar household incomes ($188K–$313K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Belle Meade ranks #2 for health in Tennessee
Out of 176 Tennessee towns with a Health Grade, Belle Meade is #2 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 98% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Belle Meade is an active town
Only 15% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Few Belle Meade adults smoke
6.8% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 17.3% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Belle Meade keeps up with checkups
It beats Tennessee on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.3% vs 78.1%) and dentist visits (76% vs 58.1%). 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 Tennessee figure falls outside Belle Meade’s likely range.
What’s behind Belle Meade’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belle Meade is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #2 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 98% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 84%.
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). Belle Meade’s median household income is $250,001; among the 436 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($188K–$313K), it’s healthier than 41%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Belle Meade adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Belle Meade adults…
Belle Meade runs below TN on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Belle Meade
No hospital or community health center in Belle Meade 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 Belle Meade; ≈ 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).
How Belle Meade adults are doing
On 3 of 3 measures, Belle Meade does better than Tennessee.
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.
1.9% of Belle Meade adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Belle Meade and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Meade | A+ | 24.9% | 9.7% | 6.8% | CDC place |
| Forest Hills | A+ | 25.7% | 10% | 8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Belle Meade adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Belle Meade
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Belle Meade is better than Tennessee on 26 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Belle Meade’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Belle Meade | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.1%10.2–14.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10%8.6–11.6 | 14.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.7–14 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.9%20.7–29.3 | 37.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.3–11.3 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.1%31.5–38.8 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.9%38–45.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.3%28.9–35.6 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8–10.3 | 11% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.1–6.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%3.9–5.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.6%4.4–6.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.8%5.3–8.8 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15%12.3–18 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.5–18.6 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.7%24–31.8 | 38.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4%3.1–5.1 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.4–83.9 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76%73.4–78.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 93.4%92.2–94.4 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%77.8–83.6 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.1%67.9–76 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%74.4–85.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.9–28.3 | 28.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.5%15–20 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 3.4%2.9–3.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 3.4%2.9–3.9 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 2.6%2.2–3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 2.7%2.4–2.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 1.9%1.7–2.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.9%20.6–27.6 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.3–12 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 2.5%2.2–3 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.5%3.8–5.4 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.7–2.4 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Belle Meade
Is Belle Meade a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belle Meade is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #2 of 176 in Tennessee. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Belle Meade?
CDC estimates 24.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.7% and 29.3%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Belle Meade?
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Belle Meade’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Belle Meade have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.1–5.1%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
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 Belle Meade more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Belle Meade.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.