Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Bells is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Bells differs from Tennessee on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bells. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bells
Making ends meet is harder in Bells
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.2%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. Utility shut-off threats (13% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (18.8% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 21.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Bells is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bells is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in Bells has no health insurance
15.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.6% across Tennessee. 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 Bells’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Bells’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bells is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 22% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Bells’ median household income is $56,027; among the 7,734 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Bells compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.3% of Bells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bells adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Bells adults…
Bells runs below TN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bells
No hospital or community health center in Bells 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 Bells; ≈ 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 Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Bells adults are doing
About the same as Tennessee on each measure.
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.
Bells and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bells | D | 44% | 14.7% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bells adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bells
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bells is better than Tennessee on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Bells’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bells | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.8%22.5–29.4 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14–18.2 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.4–23.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%35.4–53.1 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.8–16.7 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.1%35.8–44.5 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%31.6–40.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.3–31.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–13 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.2–9.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17.3–24.1 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%15.8–22 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31%25.8–36.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.2–16.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.9%35.6–50.2 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%12.8–18.5 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%73.6–81.1 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.5%50.6–58.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.4–86.9 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.5–77.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.8%52.4–63 | 63.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%66.9–81.7 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%23.7–31.9 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.7%26.9–34.6 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.2%21.1–25.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.8%16.8–20.8 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13%11.5–14.5 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.2%11.2–13.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.3%19.2–23.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.4–43.6 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.1–20 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.7%17.3–22.3 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.5–12.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 4.1% | 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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bells
Is Bells a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bells is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bells?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 53.1%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bells?
Haywood County Community Hospital in Brownsville, 11.6 miles in a straight line from Bells’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–18.5%), 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 Bells 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 Bells.
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.