Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Camden is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Camden trails Tennessee on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Camden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Camden
Camden is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Camden is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, mental distress and smoking. Health Grade ↓
Camden looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 30% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 9% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Camden
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Camden runs above Tennessee on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Camden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Camden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #124 of 176 in Tennessee. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 23% 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). Camden’s median household income is $55,029; among the 7,424 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Camden is healthier than 30% of graded towns, against 9% nationally.
Out of every 100 Camden adults…
Camden runs above TN on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Camden
1 hospital in Camden, 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 Camden; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Camden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Camden 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.5% of Camden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Camden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | D | 39.7% | 14.9% | 20.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Camden adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Camden
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Camden is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Camden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Camden | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.9%22.3–29.8 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.1–19.7 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.4–23.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%31.6–48.2 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.9%12.8–17.1 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.4%38–46.9 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.6–44.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35%31.4–38.7 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.3–12.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.8%18.1–25.9 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.5%17.3–24 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%26.3–37.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.5–17 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%32.6–47.4 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%10.1–15 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.5–81.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.9%51–59 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.7–87.8 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.5–80.7 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.4%57–67.6 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%66.5–81.6 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.7%25.6–34.2 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.4%23.6–31.5 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.8%15.9–19.9 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%11.8–15.2 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%14.5–18.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.5–46.1 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%16.9–22.6 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.5%17.1–22.3 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%9.8–13 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 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 Camden
Is Camden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Camden is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #124 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Camden?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 48.2%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Camden?
West Tennessee Healthcare Camden Hospital in Camden, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Camden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Camden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–15%), 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 Camden 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 Camden.
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.