Bolivar Court Square Historic District · Photo: RealElectrical · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Bolivar is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Bolivar differs from Tennessee on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bolivar. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bolivar
Bolivar is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bolivar is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Bolivar
1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 3.7% across Tennessee. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.7%), vs 13.6% across Tennessee. COPD is also above the state: 10.8%, vs 8.6% across Tennessee. In all, Bolivar runs above Tennessee on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bolivar
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.8%), vs 16.2% across Tennessee. Utility shut-off threats (15.8% vs 9.1%) and housing insecurity (22.3% vs 13.3%) are higher too. 26.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Bolivar, and more people treating it
49.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 79.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% 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 Tennessee figure falls outside Bolivar’s likely range.
What’s behind Bolivar’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bolivar is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #169 of 176 in Tennessee. All seven of Bolivar’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 19.7% of adults, against 13.6% across Tennessee and 12% nationally.
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). Bolivar’s median household income is $39,028; among the 2,122 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Bolivar compares well: binge drinking, 10.2% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.5% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Bolivar adults…
Bolivar runs above TN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.5% of Bolivar adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bolivar adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Bolivar
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Bolivar, 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 Bolivar; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Bolivar adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Bolivar runs above 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.
Bolivar and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar | D− | 46% | 19.7% | 21.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bolivar adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bolivar
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bolivar is better than Tennessee on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Bolivar’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bolivar | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.7%27.2–34.4 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.8–20 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.5–23.1 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46%37.2–54.7 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.7%17.3–22.1 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.6%45–54.1 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.7%35.2–44.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.4%31.7–39.2 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.1–14.2 | 11% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%9.6–12.2 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.8%17.8–26.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.1%18.3–24 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.6%31.3–41.8 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.2%8.2–12.5 | 14.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.7%39.3–54.4 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%11.8–16.6 | 11.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.3–85.5 | 78.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48%43.8–52.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.7–89 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.2–82.3 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.6%59.2–70.1 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%68.2–83.2 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.3–28.9 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.6%29.3–37.9 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.8%25.2–30.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.3%20.1–24.7 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.8%14–17.8 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.8–15.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.5%23.9–29.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8%38–47.7 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.3%20.6–26.1 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%17.9–22.4 | 17.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13%11.5–14.5 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%5.9–7.3 | 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 Bolivar
Is Bolivar a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bolivar is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #169 of 176 in Tennessee. 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 Bolivar?
CDC estimates 46% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 54.7%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bolivar?
West Tennessee Healthcare Bolivar Hospital in Bolivar, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Bolivar’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bolivar have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.8–16.6%), 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 Bolivar 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 Bolivar.
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.