Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Tennessee, Clarksville is healthier than 71% of graded towns
Clarksville differs from Tennessee on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clarksville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clarksville
Clarksville looks healthier next to Tennessee than next to the country
It’s healthier than 71% of the 176 Tennessee towns we grade, but 41% of towns nationwide. Much of Tennessee scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Clarksville
1 in 6 adults worry about keeping their housing (16.1%), vs 13.3% across Tennessee. No reliable transportation (10.7% vs 8.9%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Clarksville sleeps less
45.8% of adults sleep under 7 hours a night, vs 38.2% across Tennessee. Habits ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Clarksville
Clarksville runs below Tennessee on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.5% vs 8.2%), heart disease (4.7% vs 7%) and COPD (6.3% vs 8.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Tennessee 17%). 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 Clarksville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Clarksville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarksville is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns, #51 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 67% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Clarksville’s median household income is $69,303; among the 10,458 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Where Clarksville compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32.3% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.5% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 4.7% (U.S. 6.4%).
At 188,829 residents, Clarksville is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Clarksville adults…
Clarksville runs below TN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Clarksville residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.2% of Clarksville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves
Care in and near Clarksville
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Clarksville, 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 Clarksville; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Clarksville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Clarksville 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.
Clarksville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | C+ | 39.3% | 11% | 16.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clarksville adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clarksville
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clarksville is better than Tennessee on 8 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Clarksville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clarksville | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%18–22.8 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.4%19.1–23.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.3%32.8–46.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.6–12.5 | 13.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%30–37.6 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28.6–36.3 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.1–26.8 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.7 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.3–5.3 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17.2 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.2–18.5 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.9%21.1–28.9 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.7–19.7 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.8%39.3–52.3 | 38.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%72.5–79.7 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.5%53.7–61.1 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.6–85.5 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.9%65.9–71.8 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.3%57.1–67.3 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%66.7–81.5 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.6%25.8–33.7 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%25.4–32.9 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.6%16.7–20.5 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%14.4–18 | 13.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.7–11.7 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.2%14.4–18 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.5%29.6–37.7 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.3–14.5 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.7–20.6 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.8–5.6 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 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 Clarksville
Is Clarksville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarksville is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #51 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clarksville?
CDC estimates 39.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.8% and 46.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clarksville?
Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital in Clarksville, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Clarksville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clarksville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–14.1%), 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 Clarksville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clarksville.
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.