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Smith-county-courthouse-tn1Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Carthage · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Carthage is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns

Carthage differs from Tennessee on 6 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carthage. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Carthage

Fewer Carthage adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Tennessee. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Carthage has a top-rated hospital

Highpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. 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 Tennessee figure falls outside Carthage’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Carthage’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 44% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 12%).

CSelf-rated health21.8% · TN 22.4% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.3% · TN 14.9% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress19.6% · TN 19.3% · U.S. 15.9%
C+Obesity37.3% · TN 37.6% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.7% · TN 13.6% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking17.3% smoke · TN 17.3% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise26.5% · TN 26.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 29%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $50K–$84K (10,218)Healthier than 34%

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). Carthage’s median household income is $67,006; among the 10,218 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Carthage compares well: worried about having enough food, 12.7% (U.S. 15%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Carthage could be anywhere from D to B+. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Carthage adults worry about having enough food
12.7% · TN 16.2%
Better than TN
1 in 9
Carthage adults worry about keeping their housing
10.9% · TN 13.3%
Better than TN
1 in 14
Carthage adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.3% · TN 9.1%
Better than TN
1 in 14
Carthage adults lack reliable transportation
7.4% · TN 8.9%
Better than TN

10.6% of Carthage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.

Getting care

Care in and near Carthage

1 hospital in Carthage, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERHighpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint THCarthage · 0.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyHighpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH★★★★★ · 0.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careTennessee Department of HealthCarthage · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
Highpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH
Carthage · ★★★★★
ERRural critical accessIn Carthage
1.6 mi
Tennessee Department of Health
5 sites · nearest in Carthage
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.5 mi
Highpoint Health-Trousdale With Ascension Saint
Hartsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
18.8 mi
Macon Community Hospital
Lafayette · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.4 mi
United Neighborhood Health Services at Lebanon
Lebanon · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
21.5 mi
Dekalb Community Hospital
Smithville · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Carthage itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Carthage itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Carthage itself

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 Carthage; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Carthage adults…

Carthage runs above TN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Carthage adults have had cancer
Tennessee: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.3–10.2%
Better than TNWorseAbout the sameTennessee
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee

Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.5%TN 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.9%TN 38.2%
Binge drink 15%TN 14.6%
Smoke cigarettes 17.3%TN 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Carthage, betterCarthage, worseAbout the sameTennessee
Where Carthage gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Carthage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.

77%Yearly checkupTN 78%
62%Dentist visitTN 58%
86%Cholesterol checkTN 87%
68%Colon screeningTN 63%
73%MammogramTN 75%
77%Taking BP medsTN 76%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Carthage 11% · Tennessee 1 in 9 (11.6%)
Mind & connection

How Carthage adults are doing

About the same as Tennessee on each measure.

1 in 4Carthage adults lack social or emotional support
25.6% · TN 27.2% · About the same as TN
3 in 10Carthage adults have been diagnosed with depression
29.6% · TN 28.4% · About the same as TN
1 in 5Carthage adults are in frequent mental distress
19.6% · TN 19.3% · About the same as TN
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Carthage and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
CarthageC37.3%12.7%17.3%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

36.6%

of Carthage adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.5%
Thinking or memory17.8%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone9.5%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing3.9%
Tennessee

Every CDC estimate for Carthage

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carthage is better than Tennessee on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Carthage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…CarthageTNU.S.vs TN
Overall health
Fair or poor health21.8%18.2–25.522.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.3%13.1–17.614.9%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)19.6%17.2–22.219.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity37.3%29.1–46.237.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.7%10.9–14.713.6%12%About the same
High blood pressure37.9%33.5–42.439.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.5%34.2–4338.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis32.2%28.8–35.930.6%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.1%9.8–12.611%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.2%8.3–10.28.2%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.1%6.2–8.17%6.4%About the same
COPD9%7.4–10.68.6%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.7%3.2–4.23.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)17.4%14.2–20.814.6%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.3%14.1–20.817.3%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work26.5%21.3–31.926.6%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15%12.2–18.214.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours36.9%30.4–43.738.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)11%8.5–14.111.6%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year77.3%73.5–80.978.1%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year61.9%58.1–65.658.1%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.4%84.1–88.686.6%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77%74.1–79.776.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.2%63.3–72.963.2%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)73.2%65–80.175.2%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression29.6%25.4–33.928.4%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support25.6%22–29.527.2%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.7%11.2–14.416.2%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing10.9%9.5–12.413.3%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.3%6.3–8.39.1%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation7.4%6.7–8.28.9%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.6%9.2–12.114.3%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability36.6%31.4–42.135.8%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.5%13.7–19.416.3%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering17.8%15.1–20.517.4%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.1%7.1–9.37.6%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.1%4.4–65.5%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.5%8.1–11.29.5%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.9%3.3–4.54.1%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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Carthage

Is Carthage a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carthage is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Carthage?

CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 46.2%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Carthage?

Highpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH in Carthage, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Carthage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Carthage have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–14.1%), 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 Carthage more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carthage.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.